FORMULATION, DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF NANOSPONGES CONTAINING ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG

The study aimed to develop and optimize ursolic acid-loaded nanosponges for anti-inflammatory applications. Ursolic acid was first characterized for its organoleptic and physicochemical properties, appearing as a white to pale cream crystalline solid with a slight herbal odor. Its melting point (282 °C) corresponded with reported values, confirming purity. The compound exhibited a slightly acidic pH (5.9), showed high solubility in PBS buffer and several organic solvents, but was sparingly soluble in water and DMSO, guiding excipient and solvent selection for formulation. Calibration using UV spectroscopy displayed excellent linearity (R² = 0.9993), while FTIR confirmed the structural integrity of the compound through characteristic functional groups. Nanosponges prepared with ursolic acid exhibited a stable solid white appearance with characteristic odor. Among five formulations (NS 1–NS 5), NS 2 demonstrated superior performance, with the smallest particle size (53.03 nm), highest zeta potential (-30.2 mV), and maximum entrapment efficiency (93.47%), indicating enhanced stability and drug-loading capacity. SEM analysis confirmed spherical and porous morphology suitable for controlled release. Conversely, NS 5 showed the least favorable characteristics. Overall, NS 2 was identified as the optimized formulation, highlighting the potential of nanosponge technology to improve ursolic acid delivery, stability, and therapeutic efficacy in inflammation management.