Investigation of effect of non-ionic surfactant on preparation of griseofulvin non-aqueous nanoemulsion

Generally emulsions are water-in-oil or oil-in-water type, but emulsions may contain polar liquid as one of the phase. Non-aqueous emulsions are useful in many situations where presence of water is not desirable, and formulation of active ingredients which undergo hydrolysis or oxidation in the presence of water. The study was to design a stable non-aqueous nanoemulsion (NANE) using cosmetically approved ingredients as a vehicle for the water-sensitive active ingredients. Non-aqueous nanoemulsion was designed to increase the dermal penetration and permeation and study solubility and dermal bioavailability of griseofulvin. For better compliance, the NANEs will be incorporated in cosmetics or personal care products. A non-aqueous system was obtained with glycerin and olive oil stabilized by glycerol monosterate with co-surfactant. It was observed that emulsification behavior is completely unpredictable and conventional theories of emulsification and HLB system cannot be applied here. An optimized NANE was obtained through implementation of pseudo-ternary phase diagram. Pseudo-ternary phase diagram was constructed using surfactant and co-surfactant ratio (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1) and nanoemulsion region was determined and further characterized for pH, rheology, globule size analysis, zeta potential and stability. Stability studies (agitation, centrifugation, freeze thaw cycle, accelerated stability) were carried out at 5, 25 and 40 °C. Cream was stable at 5 and 25. Results proved that NANE can be used as vehicle for the poorly water-soluble drug, suspension vehicles and oleogels.