Development and Optimization of Plant Extract Loaded Nanoemulsion Mixtures for the Treatment of Inflammatory Disorder

Abstract

In current study, a nanoemulsion as drug delivery system (NE) of spray dried Boswellia Serrata Extract (BSE) was developed and characterized to compare it in vitro/Ex vivo diffusion with reference formulation. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed by phase diagram by aqueous titration method, of which the evaluation method was improved for solubility, Droplet size and transmittance. The formulation of BSE-loaded NE was optimized by a Simplex lattice mixture experimental design. The optimized nanoemulsion formulation, loading with 199.8 mg g^-1 BSE total boswellic acids, consisted of Isopropyl Myristate, Tween 80 and Ethanol (2:8:10, w/w) and it remained stable after storing at 40°C, 25°C, 4°C for at least 6 months. When diluted with water, the NE droplet size was 11.25 nm and the zeta potential was 0.223 mV. The spherical droplet shape was confirmed by TEM analysis. Ex vivo skin permeation and in vivo anti-inflammatory study were conducted. About 3.25 fold increase in flux was seen in case of nanoemulsion, nanogel showed 1.45 fold increase in flux as compared to carbopol gel with highest enhancement ratio 4.57 and 1.59 respectively. Our study illustrated potential of developed nanoemulsion as possible alternative to traditional topical formulations.