Stable Ethosome-like Catanionic Vesicles for Transdermal Hydrophilic Drug Delivery with Predictable Encapsulation...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Colloid and Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Lipid-like pseudo-double-chained catanionic surfactants are promising for drug and gene delivery carriers.
• Ethosome-like catanionic vesicles are fabricated via a semi-spontaneous process for transdermal drug delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally determine the encapsulation efficiency of Arbutin in ethosome-like catanionic vesicles.
• To develop a model for predicting encapsulation efficiency and understand factors influencing drug loading.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of ethosome-like catanionic vesicles using decyltrimethylammonium-tetradecylsulfate (DeTMA-TS) and decyltrimethylammonium-dodecylsulfate (DeTMA-DS) with varying ethanol and cholesterol concentrations.
• Experimental determination of Arbutin encapsulation efficiency.
• Development of a unilamellar vesicle (ULV) model for theoretical prediction.

Main Results:

• A ULV model accurately predicted encapsulation efficiency within ±10% error for most vesicle compositions.
• Stable ethosome-like catanionic vesicles with a polydispersity index (PDI) < 0.3 were successfully prepared.
• Linear correlations were found between trap volume ratio, vesicle size, and cholesterol concentration, aiding drug loading control.

Conclusions:

• Stable ethosome-like catanionic vesicles can be prepared with predictable hydrophilic drug encapsulation efficiencies.
• The developed model and identified correlations provide guidelines for optimizing drug loading in these novel vesicles.
• These findings support the development of ethosome-like catanionic vesicles for advanced transdermal drug delivery applications.