Formulation, characterisation and in vivo evaluation of lipid-based nanocarrier for topical delivery of diflunisal

Abstract

Diflunisal (DIF) is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis. The current engrossment was aimed at formulation and assessment of DIF-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for topical/dermal application. SLNs formulated by hot homogenisation method based on microemulsification technique were spherical with a mean size of 124.0 ± 2.07 nm; PDI 0.294 ± 0.15. The cumulative amount permeated/area was 109.99 ± 0.008 μg/cm², along with permeation flux (6.30 ± 0.09 μg/cm²/h) and skin retention (11.74 ± 0.155 μg/cm²) across mice skin. The SLNs of DIF showed significant decrease in fluid volume, granuloma tissue weight, leukocyte count/mm³ after application of SLN formulation in mice air pouch model. Similarly, in mice ear oedema and rat paw oedema model, there was 2.30 and 1.29 time increase in percentage inhibition of oedema after SLN formulation application, respectively, as compared with conventional cream. Hence, the SLNs of DIF may prove to be a potential nanocarrier to effectively treat the local inflammatory conditions associated with arthritis.

Keywords:

• Diflunisal
• solid lipid nanoparticles
• air pouch
• oedema
• arthritis

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Dr Indu Pal Kaur, Professor of Pharmaceutics, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and her research group for carrying out the dynamic light scattering studies.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.