The Influence of Operational Parameters on the Characterization of Tretinoin-Loaded Niosomes

A new pharmaceutical system was developed to integrate tretinoin into niosomes, optimizing drug encapsulation without increasing the niosome size. The aim of this study was to produce tretinoin-loaded niosomes by the thin film hydration method. The effects of three factors including the molar ratio of surfactants to cosurfactants (0.1, 0.3, 0.5), hydration process temperature (40, 50, 60 °C), and ultrasound intensity (100, 150, 200 kHz) on drug encapsulation, particle size, and zeta potential of niosomes were investigated. Span 60 and Tween 80 were used as nonionic surfactants, with 1-dodecanol as a stabilizer and cosurfactant, dichloromethane as the solvent, and a phosphate buffer (pH 5.5) for hydration. Drug loading efficiency varied from 41% to 83%, and niosome sizes ranged from 210 to 440 nm. The highest drug loading (83%) was achieved with a 0.1 molar ratio of surfactants, 40 °C hydration, and 100 kHz ultrasound, resulting in a particle size of 440 nm and zeta potential between -9 and -16 mV.