[Preliminary study on premixed materials of emulsion gel]

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science
• Dermatology

Background:

• Emulsion gels are versatile formulations with applications in drug delivery.
• Developing stable and effective gel matrices is crucial for transdermal formulations.
• Pre-mixed materials offer convenience and consistency in pharmaceutical preparations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and optimize a pre-mixed emulsion gel substrate.
• To evaluate the stability, rheology, and preliminary skin compatibility of the optimized gel.
• To assess the potential of the substrate for incorporating active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Main Methods:

• Formula screening based on common use, cost, and process simplicity.
• Central composite design-response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) for optimization.
• Evaluation of viscosity, thixotropy, stability, and skin irritation of the formulated gel.

Main Results:

• Optimal formula determined for carbomer 940, castor oil, and polysorbate-80.
• The optimized emulsion gel substrate exhibited good appearance, stability, viscosity, and thixotropy.
• Preliminary transdermal flux of rutin, berberine hydrochloride, and berbamine hydrochloride was <1% in 1 hour.
• No skin irritation was observed within 1 hour of application.

Conclusions:

• The developed emulsion gel substrate shows promise as a pre-mixed material for pharmaceutical applications.
• The optimized formula provides a stable and rheologically suitable matrix.
• Further development is warranted to explore its full potential in transdermal drug delivery.