DEVELOPMENT & EVALUATION OF NAPROXEN LOADED TRANSFEROSOME TO IMPROVE TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY

The present study focuses on the development and evaluation of Naproxen-loaded transferosomes to enhance transdermal drug delivery. Transferosomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method by varying concentrations of soy lecithin, cholesterol, and Tween 80. The prepared formulations were evaluated for vesicle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. The vesicle size was found to be in the nanometer range, with the optimized formulation exhibiting the smallest size and highest stability as indicated by a high negative zeta potential. The entrapment efficiency of the formulations was satisfactory, with the optimized formulation showing maximum drug loading due to an optimal lipid composition. The optimized transferosomal formulation was further incorporated into a Carbopol gel base to improve ease of application and patient compliance. The prepared gel formulations were evaluated for viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, and drug content, and showed acceptable physicochemical properties. The in-vitro drug release study of the optimized gel demonstrated a sustained and controlled release pattern over an extended period, in contrast to the rapid release of the conventional formulation. Release kinetics studies revealed that the drug release followed first-order kinetics with a diffusion-controlled mechanism. The overall findings suggest that transferosomes are a promising vesicular carrier system for enhancing the transdermal delivery of Naproxen by improving drug permeation, stability, and therapeutic efficacy while reducing dosing frequency and side effects.