Formulation of Topical Flurbiprofen Solid Lipid Nanoparticle Gel Formulation Using Hot Melt Extrusion Technique

Hot melt extrusion (HME) has been used for the formulation of topical solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) gel without using any other size reduction technique including high pressure homogenization or sonication. SLN formulation solely using HME has not been applied to other drugs except IBU. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to formulate FLB SLN solely using HME technique and evaluate the SLN formulation in inflammation animal model. Stable 0.5% w/v FLB SLN gel with particle size < 250 nm, PI < 0.3 and EE of > 98% was prepared. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram showed that the drug was converted to amorphous form in the HME process. Additionally, rheological studies demonstrated that FLB SLN gel and marketed FLB gel showed shear thinning property. FLB SLN formulation showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher peak force required to spread the formulation as compared to marketed FLB formulation. Stability studies showed that FLB SLN gel was stable for a month at room temperature and 2–4°C. Moreover, in vitro permeation test (IVPT) and ex vivo skin deposition study results revealed that FLB SLN gel showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in drug deposition in dermal layer and drug permeation as compared to control marketed formulation. Further, in vivo anti-inflammatory study showed equivalent inhibition of rat paw edema using 0.5% w/v FLB SLN gel which has 10 times less strength compared to control formulation. Overall, FLB SLN formulation was successfully manufactured solely using HME technique which resulted in enhanced the skin permeation of FLB and superior anti-inflammatory activity.