Development and optimization of drug-loaded nanoemulsion system by phase inversion temperature (PIT) method using...

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Nanoemulsions are crucial for drug delivery due to their high surface area and stability.
• Traditional methods for nanoemulsion preparation can be complex and costly.
• The Phase Inversion Temperature (PIT) method is known for producing food-grade nanoemulsions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a stable and optimized drug-loaded nanoemulsion using the PIT method.
• To investigate the efficacy of a novel oil phase blend for nanoemulsion formulation.
• To compare the in-vitro drug diffusion of the developed nanoemulsion with a marketed product.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Box-Behnken experimental design to optimize nanoemulsion formulation variables.
• Employed the Phase Inversion Temperature (PIT) method for nanoemulsion preparation.
• Incorporated benidipine as a model hydrophobic drug and an optimized oil phase blend (long-chain triglycerides, medium-chain triglycerides, essential oil).

Main Results:

• Achieved a stable, transparent O/W nanoemulsion with 50% oil to surfactant ratio and droplet size of 96.57 ± 1.61 nm.
• Demonstrated significantly higher in-vitro drug diffusion from the optimized nanoemulsion compared to the marketed formulation.
• Transmission electron microscopy confirmed spherical nanoemulsion droplets; statistical analysis validated the impact of independent variables.

Conclusions:

• The PIT method is effective for producing stable and efficient drug-loaded nanoemulsions.
• The optimized oil phase blend presents a cost-effective alternative to commercial medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oils.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for developing advanced nanoemulsion-based drug delivery systems.