Development of proniosomes gel as a drug carrier for transdermal delivery of acyclovir

Abstract

Non-ionic surfactant vesicles of acyclovir, an antiviral, were prepared by coacervation phase separation method. The prepared systems were characterised for encapsulation efficiency, shape, size and in vitro drug release scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Proniosomal prepared by using different polymers span 40, span 60, span 20, tween 20, tween 80 and cholesterol and soya lecithin. Among all proniosomal transdermal gel formulation, The results showed that acyclovir in all the formulations was successfully entrapped and a substantial change in release rate and an alteration in the encapsulation efficiency of acyclovir from proniosomes were observed upon varying the type of surfactant and cholesterol content The encapsulation efficiency of proniosomes prepared with Span 60,cholesterol and lecithin gave maximum encapsulation efficiency (89.70%) as compared to other compositions. , the niosomal gel formulation could be a promising transdermal delivery system acyclovir with prolonged drug release profiles.

Key words: Acyclovir, proniosomes, proniosomal gel, cholesterol, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, In-vitro skin permeation studies, Half- life.