Controlled Release Niosomal Gel as a Colloidal Carrier for Topical Drug Delivery of Ketorolac Tromethamine

ABSTRACT The main objective of this study is the preparation of different topical formulations of controlled release niosomal gel containing Ketorolac tromethamine (KT) niosomes to avert problems associated with KT such as gastrointestinal irritation and short half-life. Niosomes as a colloidal carrier of KT were prepared by ether injection method then incorporated into different gel bases as sodium alginate (Na alg.), Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na CMC), Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), Carbopols 934, 940 and Pluronic F-127. All formulations were characterized for their viscosity, the in vitro and in vitro release kinetics. The viscosity of the prepared gel bases could be ranked in the following order, Carbopol 940 (2%) > Na CMC (5%) > Carbopol 934 (2%) > Pluronic F-127 (30%) > Pluronic F-127 (20%) > HPMC (2.5%) > Na alg. Maximum release of the drug is obtained from Na alg. gel base, while the worst one from pluronic F-127 (30%). The results show that the release of KT from plain drug and niosomal gels follows Higuchi diffusion mechanism. The drug in its niosomal form exhibited a decrease in the release from gels as compared with plain drug. The slower release of drug from niosomes is due to the entrapment of drug within the vesicle so prolong drug release. Niosomes act as micro reservoir within the transdermal delivery systems at the surface of the skin, allowing the controlled release of the drug from the vesicles and a modulation of the drug penetration across the skin. Mahmoud M.Ahmed 1 , Saleh Abd El Rasoul 2 , Amal