DESIGN AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF RASAGILINE ETHOMOSOL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED BRAIN TARGETING

The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate Rasagiline-loaded ethosomes using varying concentrations of lipids to improve drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy. Four formulations (F1–F4) were prepared and characterized for physicochemical properties, drug-excipient compatibility, particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release, and stability studies. Preformulation studies confirmed the suitability of Rasagiline for ethosomal formulation development. The drug was found to be a white to off-white crystalline powder with a melting point range of 148–152°C. UV spectrophotometric analysis showed a maximum absorbance at 210 nm in phosphate buffer pH 7.4, and the calibration curve exhibited good linearity within the concentration range of 10–50 µg/mL with an R² value of 0.997. FTIR studies confirmed the compatibility between Rasagiline and the selected excipients without any significant interactions. Particle size analysis revealed nanosized vesicles ranging from 186 to 253 nm, while zeta potential values indicated good formulation stability. SEM analysis confirmed the spherical morphology and smooth surface characteristics of the ethosomes. Entrapment efficiency ranged from 79.50% to 85.10%, with formulation F4 showing the highest entrapment efficiency (85.10%). In vitro drug release studies demonstrated sustained drug release, with formulation F4 exhibiting the highest cumulative drug release of 98.32% over 8 hours. Accelerated stability studies performed for three months under ICH conditions confirmed the stability of the optimized formulation. Based on the overall findings, formulation F4 was identified as the optimized ethosomal formulation with desirable physicochemical characteristics, high entrapment efficiency, enhanced drug release, and satisfactory stability. Therefore, Rasagiline-loaded ethosomes may serve as a promising vesicular drug delivery system for improving therapeutic outcomes. Keywords: Rasagiline, Ethosomes, Vesicular Drug Delivery System, Entrapment Efficiency, In Vitro Drug Release, Stability Studies.