Ultra-fine self nanoemulsifying drug delivery system for transdermal delivery of meloxicam: Dependency on the type of surfactants

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate ultra-fine selfnanoemulsifying drug delivery system (UF-SNEDDS) of meloxicam (MLX) to enhance its transdermal delivery. The preliminary screening was carried out to select SNEDDS components according to type IV lipid based formulations using surfactant and co-surfactant. The prepared SNEDDS formulations were subjected to different thermodynamic stability tests. The droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, turbidity, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and in vitro MLX release studies were investigated. Finally, the influence of UF-SNEDDS on the MLX transdermal delivery was assessed. These UF-SNEDDS showed droplet size range of 14.41 ± 2.50 nm to 25.58 ± 2.33 nm, PDI less than 0.3, zeta potential with negative charge and turbidity range of 1.92-3.47 NTU. TEM of reconstituted SNEDDS-F5 demonstrated dark smaller droplet with spherical shape. The in vitro MLX release from SNEDDS was found to be higher in comparison to saturated solution (control). An in vitro permeation study was achieved in rat skin, the permeated amount of MLX was increased up to 11.89-fold as compared to control. Then, the presence of surfactant and its type can influence on both the drug release and the transdermal delivery of MLX. These results indicated that UF-SNEDDS developed for transdermal delivery may be a promising delivery system for MLX, with high solubility and improved skin permeation.