Systematic development of drug nanocarriers for effective delivery of anti inflammatory agents

Abstract

The present study is aimed to develop and evaluate novel lipid nanocarriers based topical dosage forms of Celecoxib (CXB) and Triamcinolone acetonide (TA), for effective management of autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, uveitis and nail psoriasis. The study was undertaken to improve the delivery of the chosen anti-inflammatory drugs i.e., CXB and TA, through the development of nanocarrier-based topical dosage forms. The QbD based approach was employed to systematically develop the lipid based drug delivery systems of CXB and TA. More specifically, a) SLN based gel formulation was developed for CXB, in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, b) NLC based eye drop formulation was developed for topical administration of TA, in the management of uveitis and c) In situ lipid vesicular based nail lacquer of TA was also developed, for effective management of nail psoriasis. Extensive characterization and evaluation of these formulations was carried out to understand the behaviour of these formulations. The developed lipid-based drug nanocarriers were found to enhance the drug bioavailability at the site of action and thus enhance the overall efficacy of the drug. The nano-based formulations were found to be more effective than the conventional formulations/marketed dosage forms of these drugs. In conclusion, the in vitro and in vivo performance of these formulations exhibited marked improvement in biopharmaceutical attributes and significantly enhanced anti-inflammatory potential of these drugs vis a-vis the conventional formulations. The research encompassed in the thesis points to the potential of onward extension for its translational possibility, on firm and scientifically proven ground. Having sufficient evidences on pre-clinical assessment of the nano-carriers, it may be suggested for clinical investigations.