Development and evaluation of quercetin proliposomal gel: A comprehensive study on anti-inflammatory activity

The purpose of the research was to develop and characterise quercetin proliposomes using the thin-film deposition technique with carriers such as mannitol, cholesterol, and soya lecithin.The proliposome formulations were characterised in terms of particle size analysis, surface charge, polydispersity index, drug content, entrapment efficiency, SEM, FT-IR, and stability studies.In this study, the proliposome formulation was mixed into a gel matrix, and then its rheological properties and behaviour were studied by in vitro methods.Quercetin proliposome was prepared by using different formulations like QPLF1, QPLF2, QPLF3, and QPLF4.However, the findings from the QPLF3 formulations revealed that the greatest entrapment efficiency (92.96%), which was influenced by the concentrations of phospholipid and cholesterol.The in vitro drug permeation study results showed a cumulative release rate of the QPLF3 as 86.28%, which further confirm this gel can sustain drug retention over an extended period of time.The in vivo paw edema anti-inflammatory model on proliposome gel (QPLF3) was found to be significantly more, with a maximum percentage of inhibition at 64.80%, compared to a commercially available gel that showed 54.51%.A stability study confirmed that the product remains stable when stored at refrigerator temperature.T his quercetin-based proliposome gel has shown sustained release and improved anti-inflammatory effects, indicating its promise for effective topical treatment of inflammation.