DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF NANOPARTICULATE BASED IN-SITU GELLING SYSTEM FOR NASAL DRUG DELIVERY OF AN ANTI-EPILEPTIC DRUG

The objective of the study was to develop and evaluate nanolipid carriers based in situ gel of Carbamazepine, for brain delivery through intranasal route. The non – invasive nasal route can provide rapid delivery of drugs directly to the central nervous system by bypassing the blood brain barrier. The nanolipid carriers of carbamazepine as in situ nasal gel can prolong the drug release for control of repetitive seizures and were prepared by Phase Inversion Temperature technique. The retention of the carriers in the nasal cavity was improved by using Poloxamer 407 as thermoresponsive and Carbopol 974P as mucoadhesive gelling polymers, respectively. The developed gel was evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, morphology, entrapment efficiency, mucoadhesive and thermoresponsive behaviour, in vitro drug release, ex vivo permeation and nasociliotoxicity. The gel showed sustained release over prolonged periods and was found to be non-toxic to the sheep nasal mucosa.