Investigation of the preparation of iron sulfate-loaded niosomes by an experimental novel method

Iron is a crucial nutrient for our bodies, and its absence can lead to serious health issues like anemia. Unfortunately, oral iron supplements are frequently poorly absorbed and can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort due to iron's oxidative properties. However, using nanocarrier systems to encapsulate iron can mitigate these issues, enhancing its absorption and protecting it from oxidation, ultimately improving its effectiveness. In this research, niosomes loaded with iron sulfate were prepared using surfactant span 60 and Tween 80 via thin film hydration method. Cholesterol and 1-Dodecanol were used as stabilizers in different ratios. Physiochemical properties of niosomes loaded with iron sulfate, such as particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency (EE%), were investigated. The vesicle sizes varied between 453 and 3,276 nm, with encapsulation efficiencies ranging from 75 to 93%. The zeta potential measured between - 9.91 and 6.3 mV, while the particle size distribution (PDI) was observed to be between 0.004 and 0.59 in a phosphate buffer solution at pH 6.8. Ultimately, F1 Formula was established as the most effective formula, achieving an efficiency of 90.8%, a particle size of 546.8 nm, a zeta potential of 5.5, and a PDI of 0.57.