A stable multiple emulsion system bearing isoniazid: preparation and characterization

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Materials Science

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating improved drug delivery strategies.
• Multiple emulsions offer potential for controlled drug release and improved therapeutic efficacy.
• Stabilization of multiple emulsions is crucial for their formulation and application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) multiple emulsions containing isoniazid.
• To investigate the stabilizing effect of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) on emulsion interfaces.
• To evaluate the influence of formulation variables on emulsion properties and drug release.

Main Methods:

• An improved 2x2 step emulsification technique was employed for emulsion preparation.
• Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was used as a stabilizer in both internal and external aqueous phases.
• Characterization included droplet size analysis, multiple emulsion yield determination, drug release studies, and stability testing under various storage conditions.

Main Results:

• The prepared multiple emulsions exhibited small droplet sizes and a good yield.
• Increasing MCC concentration in either phase led to an increase in droplet size.
• The study assessed the effect of Tween-80 and phase volume ratio on drug release kinetics.

Conclusions:

• Microcrystalline cellulose effectively stabilizes isoniazid-loaded w/o/w multiple emulsions.
• The developed emulsification technique and formulation approach are promising for TB therapy.
• Further optimization could lead to advanced drug delivery systems for tuberculosis treatment.