PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMULATION AND PREPARATION PROCESS OF NIOSOMES CONTAINING ASCORBIC ACID

Ngoc Nha Thao Nguyen1, , Minh Du Pham1, Nhut Anh Huy Nguyen1, Huu Loc Huynh1, Trung Kien Ly1, Chi Khanh Lam1
1 Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Main Article Content

Abstract

Background: Niosomes are a promising drug delivery system composed of bilayer vesicles formed by the self-assembly of non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol in an aqueous environment. Niosomes containing ascorbic acid have the potential to improve stability, enhance permeability, and provide controlled drug delivery. However, the current study is limited to formulation development and the investigation of certain factors affecting the characteristics of the niosomal system. This system effectively protects the active ingredient, ensuring sustained efficacy over time. Objectives: To develop a formulation and optimize the ethanol injection method for the preparation of ascorbic acid-loaded niosomes, meeting the criteria of a nanosized dispersion system. Materials and Methods: Niosomes containing ascorbic acid were prepared using the ethanol injection method. The effects of formulation components and process parameters—including phase mixing temperature and injection rate—were evaluated concerning particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), and niosomal encapsulation efficiency (EE%). Results: Ascorbic acid-loaded niosomes were successfully formulated using the ethanol injection method with an optimized surfactant (Span 60) to Cholesterol ratio of 1:1. The optimized process parameters included an injection rate of 1 mL/min and a phase mixing temperature of 60°C. The resulting niosomes exhibited a nanosized and homogeneous distribution (285.90 ± 16.10 nm, PDI = 0.35 ± 0.04), with an encapsulation efficiency of 26.83 ± 0.71%. Conclusion: Ascorbic acidloaded niosomes were successfully developed using the ethanol injection method. This serves as a preliminary foundation for further studies aiming to evaluate their potential for large-scale application.

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References

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