Topical Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (NLC) gel of Etodolac: Central Composite Design, Optimization, In Vitro Skin Penetration and Dermatokinetic Study

The objective of this investigation was to fabricate and evaluate a topical NLC based nanogel of etodolac. Topical nano formulation gel of drug was developed and its characterization variables were estimated. The present work was optimized with the help of design expert software (central composite design). Etodolac encapsulated nanostructured lipid carrier were prepared by melt emulsification solidification at low temperature method (slight modification). Size distribution, efficiency of drug entrapment, ex vivo study, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of NLC dispersion. The optimized batch was evaluated for permeation data investigation, skin retention parameter by tape stripping technique and dermatokinetic study, pharmacodynamic studies of NLC gel encapsulated etodolac. The NLC formulations were developed in various size ranges from 224 +/- to 613 nanometer. The etodolac entrapment efficacy and zeta potential of manufactured NLC were found to be 79.56 +/- 1.04 to 86.04 +/- 0.95 % and -18.52 +/- 0.58 to -22.80 +/- 0.36 mV, respectively. Dermatokinetic study in epidermis showed C-skin max 36.25 +/- 2.64 cm(2)/h in case of NLC based nanogel while 18.25 +/- 1.24 cm(2)/h in case of conventional gel suggesting that more penetration of etodolac from nano lipid based gel due to occlusive effect. In vivo study of etodolac nano gel is magnificent as compare to conventional gel that is able to decreases the edema beginning from 3rd hour and during time of study and offering sustaining anti-inflammatory action of etodolac NLC gel.