Chloramphenicol Application Onto the Eyelid: Transfersomes for Enhanced Skin Delivery

The aim of the study was to prepare chloramphenicol (CAM)-loaded transfersomes to enhance drug permeability following topical administration, considering the final goal of treating conjunctivitis by applying the formulation onto the eyelid. The CAM-loaded transfersomes obtained have an average particle size of approximately 120 nm, are monodispersed with polydispersity index < 0.1, and exhibit high encapsulation efficiency (84 ± 5.5%). The formulation showed vesicle deformability, good biocompatibility and enhanced skin permeation compared to a conventional ophthalmic formulation of the antibiotic. The optimized drug-loaded nanosystem was subsequently jellified and the fluid gel obtained presented rheological behaviour adequate for application onto the eyelid. The formulation showed physical and chemical stability after 3 months storage. Therefore, eyelid administration of CAM-loaded transfersomes could be considered as a potential strategy for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis.