Formulation Development and Evaluation of Proniosomes for Antiviral Drugs

Abstract

Presently proniosomes have been studied by investigators as a preference of oral drug delivery system for antiretroviral drugs to provide a better oral bioavailability considering, targeted delivery, minimize the adverse effects, prolonged release of the niosome encapsulated medicaments through biological membrane and the stability of them. Acquird immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most common problem throughout the world because of rapid increase in the number of victims. HIV is an RNA retrovirus and infection occurs when a glycoprotein from HIV binds to surface receptors of T lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells leading to destruction of these cells. It causes slow progressive decrease in immune function resulting in opportunistic infections of various types. Nucleoside reverse trascriptors are the anti retoviral drugs useful in prolonging and improving the quality of life and postponding complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Abacavir sulphate was approved in 1998 as a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. This guanosine analogue is a clinically potent ARV drug. Rapid reduction in plasma HIV RNA count and rapid rise in CD4 cell count has been noted when abacavir was given to AIDS patient. Proniosomes evidenced to be the potential carriers for proficient oral delivery of hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. Henceforth an attempt was made toencapsulate the hydrophilic drug abacavir sulphate to prolong the drug release, reduce the drug related adverse effect and hypersensitivity reactions. Preformulation studies were accomplished to formulate the stable abacavir sulphate noisome and proniosome formulations. Abacavir sulphate loaded niosomes were formulated by thin film hydration method and maltodextrin based proniosomes were prepared by slurry method with different surfactants andcholesterol. The formulation of proniosomes by slurry method was found to be more convenient than the preparation of conventional niosomes. newline