Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF LIPOSOMAL GEL OF LORNOXICAM

Himanshi Swami*, Ajay Bilandi, Mahesh Kumar Kataria, Kamaljot Kaur

Abstract

Lornoxicam is a potent oxicam class of non steroidal antiinflammatory agent (NSAIDS), prescribed for mild to moderate pain and inflammation. The main factor that limits use of NSAIDs is concern over the development of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. NSAIDs may cause GI tract mucosal injury (e.g. Erosion, ulcers) and GI complications (e.g. bleeding, perforation, obstruction) by conventional dosage form that are administered by oral route. Topical dosage forms provide relatively consistent drug levels for prolonged periods and avoid gastric irritation, as well as the other typical side effects of oral NSAID administration. In this research work liposomal gel of lornoxicam was developed for topical application. Lornoxicam liposomes were fabricated by thin film hydration technique. Bilayer composition of liposomal vesicles was optimized. Preformulation studies (organoleptic studies, melting point, partition coefficient, absorption maxima, FTIR study) were performed for identification of drug. Prepared liposomes of lornoxicam were incorporated into a gel using Carbopol 941. Rheological and texture properties of prepared gel formulation showed suitability of the gel for topical application. The developed formulation was evaluated for drug entrapment efficiency, pH measurement, in vitro drug release, drug content, and skin irritation studies etc. Formulation F2 (lecithin: drug: cholesterol 100:10:10) was selected as optimized formulation and all the parameters viz. percentage yield, entrapment efficiency, spreadability, viscosity, drug release were found bettter. The results of all tests were found to be satisfactory within the prescribed limits. The formulations showed higher R2 values for Higuchi Equation plots indicating that drug release followed Higuchi Equation kinetics.

Keywords: Lornoxicam, thin film hydration technique, liposomal gel, drug entrapment efficiency