Carboxy Methyl Cellulose-based Gel Containing Nanoliposomes Loaded with Chilli Pepper and Ginger Extracts as a Novel Topical Anti-obesity Formulation

Introduction: An important worldwide health concern that has an adverse effect on both people and societies is obesity. It may result in diseases linked to obesity, a lower standard of living, or even death. Therefore, there is a pressing need for more advanced and novel drug delivery techniques, such as topical therapy, to treat obesity. However, there are several obstacles to overcome, including low molecular weight, high lipophilicity, limited efficacy, and skin irritation. It seems that nanoliposomes (NLPs) are a nearly ideal drug-carrier system. They are thought to be the best delivery vehicles for physiologically active substances, both in vitro and in vivo, due to their advantages in biology and technology. Material and Method: Carboxy methyl cellulose-based gel containing NLPs loaded with chilli pepper and ginger extracts (CMC-gel containing Chi/G-NLPs) has been studied. The NLPs containing the extracts are synthesized using a thin layer hydration and ultrasound method. Then nanocarrier’s physicochemical properties, drug loading capacity, and rate of release are evaluated. Results: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential (ZP), in vitro release profile, and in vitro skin absorption assays verify the optimal physicochemical characteristics, 30% in vitro skin absorption and slow control in vitro release behavior. Conclusion: When considered collectively, our findings supported the idea that using Chi/G-NLPs in a CMC-gel will optimize its effectiveness as an innovative topical therapy for obesity.