Development and evaluation of doxycycline niosomal thermoresponsive in situ gel for ophthalmic delivery

The present study was focused on the development of doxycycline niosomal thermosensitive in situ gel for ophthalmic application. For this purpose, in situ gel formulations based on Poloxamer 407 alone and in combination with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose were prepared by cold method and evaluated in terms of sol-gel transition temperature, gelling time and capacity. The addition of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose to the composition led to decrease in the phase transition temperature of the systems. Conversely, the inclusion of doxycycline niosomes to the formulations didn''t have a significant influence on their gelling and rheological properties. Doxycycline niosomal in situ gel based on 15%w/w Poloxamer and 1.5% w/w hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was characterized with gelation temperature of 34 °C, appropriate for ophthalmic application, pseudoplastic flow behavior and very good physical stability. In vitro release studies indicated slower and sustained doxycycline release from the developed in situ gel as compared to niosomes. The conducted microbiological studies revealed its enhanced antibacterial activity with respect to doxycycline solution and doxycycline in situ gel. The obtained results indicate that the elaborated niosomal in situ gel may serve as a promising system for ophthalmic delivery of doxycycline, ensuring sufficient therapeutic concentration and sustained drug release.