QBD APPROACH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NANOSPONGE LOADED TOPICAL GEL OF FUCOIDAN FOR THE TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: IN VITRO, EX-VIVO, AND IN VIVO ASSESSMENT

Objective: This contemporary research reports the fabrication, optimization, and evaluation of Fucoidan (FDN)-loaded Nanosponges (NS) based gel for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Risk assessment was performed, followed by screening and optimization of NS formulation by 32 factorial design using Design-Expert® software. FDN-loaded NS prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation technique was subjected to different solid and liquid state characterizations and subsequently loaded in carbopol gel. The effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and TNFα) were evaluated using macrophage cells. Results: The physical and chemical characteristics exhibited by the prepared NS and gels (F1-F9) were found to be optimal. The optimization resulted in achieving formulation NS1 with 72.6% in vitro drug release and 8457cp viscosity and followed the Higuchi-matrix model. Histopathology studies revealed that prepared nanogel has promising anti-arthritic activity. The skin permeation studies showed that the optimized gel formulation was successful in stopping the drug from permeation through the skin. Moreover, the nanogel has depicted sustained drug release till 24 h. Conclusion: Hence, the NS-based the delivery system developed and assessed in the current research approach seemed to be auspicious concerning preventing rheumatoid arthritis along with practical utilization in the pharmaceutical field.