NANOEMULSION FOR TOPICAL THERAPY OF ACNE: OPTIMIZATION AND EVALUATION

Abstract

The present investigation was aimed / carried out to develop a nano-sized emulsion-based vehicle containing 13-cis-retinoic acid as a means of increasing its permeability and be a suitable topical therapy for acne. Various heterogeneous dispersions were formulated by spontaneous nano emulsification method using 9% w/w propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, 27% w/w caprylocaproyl macrogol glycerides, 9% w/w polyglyceryl–6–dioleate and 55% w/w distilled water as an external phase. All plain and 13- cis-retinoic acid loaded nanoemulsions were clear and showed suitable physicochemical parameters for desired topical delivery and stability. The permeation profiles of 13-cis-retinoic acid through rat skin from selected optimized nanoemulsion formulation followed zero order kinetics. The microscopic observations indicate that the optimized nanoemulsion has no significant effect on the microscopic structure of the skin and epithelial cells appeared mostly unchanged. The surface epithelium lining and the granular cellular structure of the skin were totally intact. Hence, developed nanoemulsion containing 13-cis-retinoic acid would be a potential drug delivery vehicle for effective management of acne.