In vitro permeation and in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of nanoscaled emulsions containing ibuprofen for topical delivery

Figures & data

Table 1 Chemical composition (% w/w) of selected nanoscaled emulsions

Formula	Ibuprofen content	Oil phase			TEA solution pH 7.4	Tween 80
		Menthol	Limonene	POEs
G40a	5	–		23.70	35.08	36.02
G41	5	–		23.58	34.89	35.83
G44	5	5	–	18.58	34.89	35.83
G45	5	10	–	13.58	34.89	35.83
G46	5	–	5	18.58	34.89	35.83
G47	5	–	10	13.58	34.89	35.83

Note: All formulations contain 0.20% w/w sodium benzoate as a preservative and 0.50% w/w Carbopol^® 940 as a rheology modifier.

a Carbopol^® 940-free nanoscaled emulsion.

Abbreviations: POE, palm olein ester; TEA, triethanolamine.

Table 2 Permeability parameters of evaluated formulations

Formulation	Flux (μg/cm^2 hr)	Percentage of ibuprofen permeated	Permeability coefficient (cm/hr)	Enhancement ratio
G40	10.62 ± 1.364a	25.64 ± 3.587	0.203 ± 2.6 × 10^−5	1.66
G41	5.86 ± 0.259	14.06 ± 1.755	0.112 ± 4.9 × 10^−6	0.92
G44	7.31 ± 1.142	18.77 ± 3.928	0.139 ± 2.2 × 10^−5	1.15
G45	9.37 ± 2.036a	21.93 ± 2.867	0.134 ± 7.9 × 10^−6	1.47
G46	7.02 ± 0.415	17.78 ± 0.558	0.179 ± 3.9 × 10^−5	1.10
G47	8.72 ± 0.036a	22.35 ± 0.665	0.166 ± 6.9 × 10^−7	1.37
Nurofen^® 5% Gel	6.38 ± 0.734	16.58 ± 3.325	0.122 ± 1.4 × 10^−5	–

Notes: All data is presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3).

a P < 0.05 versus Nurofen^® 5% Gel.

Figure 1 Cumulative mean of in vitro permeation profiles of ibuprofen from formulations G40, G41, and reference Gel through rat skin.

Note: All data is presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3).

Figure 2 Cumulative mean of in vitro permeation profiles of ibuprofen from formulations G44–G47 and reference Gel through rat skin.

Note: All data is presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3).

Figure 3 Anti-inflammatory effects of various formulations comprising ibuprofen, applied topically on rat hind paw edema at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours after administration of carrageenan.

Note: All data is presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 6).

Figure 4 Analgesic effects of various formulations comprising ibuprofen, applied topically on rat hind paw edema at 2 and 4 hours after administration of carrageenan.

Note: All data is presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 6).