FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF NIOSOMAL IN SITU GEL OF PREDNISOLONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE FOR OCULAR DRUG DELIVERY

Objective: The main purpose of the study was to develop niosomal in situ gel of prednisolone sodium phosphate (PSP) with increased bioavailability (enhanced permeation) and sustained action (drug retention at the target site). Methods: Using different ratios of span 60 and cholesterol (chol), niosomes were prepared by thin film hydration method and optimized by evaluating different parameters like drug content, entrapment efficiency, particle size and in vitro drug diffusion study. The niosomal pellets were further incorporated in in situ gel, prepared by the cold method and further optimized by parameters like gelling parameters, mucoadhesive strength and in vitro, in vivo drug release study. Results: The optimized niosomal formulation containing span 60 and chol in equal proportion (1:1) showed better drug content (DC) i.e. 86.3±0.39% and entrapment efficiency (EE) i.e. 83.4±0.22 with vesicle size of 465±0.24 nm. The in vitro drug diffusion study indicated t90 value of 490 min thus proving sustained action of the formulation. The optimized in situ gel containing poloxamer 407 (P407) and poloxamer 188 (P188) in the ratio of 1:2.7 showed gelation temperature at 37 ⁰C (physiological temperature of the body) and t90 value of 10 h thus depicting sustained action. The increased area under curve (AUC) value by 1.75 folds proved increased bioavailability of the drug. Conclusion: Thus sustained drug delivery with increased bioavailability was designed for prednisolone sodium phosphate for the treatment of ocular inflammation