Niosomes gel of apigenin to improve the topical delivery: development, optimization, ex vivo permeation, antioxidant study, and in vivo evaluation

Abstract

Niosomes (NS) are the promising and novel carrier of the drug for effective transdermal delivery. Apigenin (AN) is a natural bioactive compound and has various pharmacological activities. AN is poorly water soluble which directly affects therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this research work was to develop the AN-NS gel to improve transdermal delivery. The thin-film hydration method was used for the development of AN-NS. The optimized AN-NS (AN-NS2) has a vesicle size of 272.56 ± 12.49 nm, PDI is 0.249, zeta potential is −38.7 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 86.19 ± 1.51%. The FTIR spectra of the AN-NS2 depicted that AN encapsulated in the NS matrix. AN-NS2 formulation was successfully incorporated into chitosan gel and evaluated. The optimized AN-NS2 gel (AN-NS2G4) has 2110 ± 14cps of viscosity, 10.40 ± 0.21g.cm/sec of spreadability, and 99.65 ± 0.53% of drug content. AN-NS2G4 displayed significantly (p < 0.05) higher AN released (67.64 ± 3.03%) than pure AN-gel (37.31 ± 2.87%). AN-NS2G4 showed the Korsmeyer Peppas release model. AN-NS2G4 displayed significantly (p < 0.05) higher antioxidant activity (90.72%) than pure AN (64.53%) at 300 µg/ml. AN-NS2G4 displayed significantly (p < 0.05) higher % inhibition of swelling than pane AN-gel in carrageenin-induced paw oedema in rats. The finding concluded that niosomes-laden gel is a good carrier of drugs to improve transdermal delivery and therapeutic efficacy.

Keywords:

• Transdermal delivery
• niosomes gel
• apigenin
• ex vivo permeation
• in vivo study

Acknowledgment

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through project number 223202.

Author contributions statement

Conception and design: Omar Awad Alsaidan, Ameeduzzafar Zafar, Mohd Yasir; Analysis and interpretation of the data: Omar Awad Alsaidan, Ameeduzzafar Zafar, Lubhan Singh, Mohammad Khalid; Rayan Hamood Al-Ruwaili, Sami I. Alzarea; Drafting of the paper: Ameeduzzafar Zafar, Omar Awad Alsaidan; Mohd Yasir, Rayan Hamood Al-Ruwaili; Revising it critically for intellectual content: Sami I. Alzarea, Mohammad Khalid, Aseel Awad Alsaidan, Lubhan Singh; Final approval of the version to be published; Omar Awad Alsaidan, Ameeduzzafar Zafar, Aseel Awad Alsaidan, and that all authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

All the data is present in the manuscript and available on request

Additional information

Funding

The Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia provided the funding for this research work through project number 223202