Fabrication and characterization of piroxicam loaded Nano emulsions for topical drug delivery to fight osteoarthritic pain

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Nano systems such as microemulsions (ME) and nano emulsions (NE) offer considerable opportunities for targeted drug delivery to and via the skin. ME and NE are stable colloidal systems composed of oil and water, stabilized by a mixture of surfactants and cosurfactants, that have received particular interest as topical skin delivery systems. Nano emulsions offer major platform for local targeted drug delivery through the skin. Nano emulsions represent stable colloidal systems comprising of oil and water, achieving stability by admixture of surfactants and co-surfactants and such system offer suitable platform to mitigate the chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis. In this context, we formulate and evaluate piroxicam-nano emulsion with respect to effects of surfactants, cosurfactants and lipid phase on the physicochemical properties of finished emulsion. Multiple trial formulations were developed and characterized. Almost all the formulations were stable but 4 out of 6 formulations showed excellent stability during accelerated stability studies. Drug release was within range of 99.51% to 101.01% for different formulations which in turn gave the hypothesis that emulsion produced by this method can be used for topical delivery. Texture and spread-ability of most formulations were adequate which ranging from 3-6 cm for topical use which ensured patient compliance. Entrapment efficiency showed that drug is entrapped sufficiently and drug release is as desired. Also, SEM and zeta sizer showed a small nanoparticle having size rage within 200 nm which was the main objective to achieve. PDI value was less than 1 indicating homogenous Nano emulsion and zeta potential values ranging between -24.7 mV to -39.4mV showed formulation stability as charged particles have the tendency to repel each other and thus preventing aggregation. In conclusion, the formulation and technique used in the preparation of the emulsion is proved to be significant and can be tried for more elaborate animal studies and which in turn can be easily used for mass production of Nano emulsion for commercial purpose.