DESIGN AND CHARATERZATION OF ETHOSOME DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM CONTAINING ISRADIPINE FOR TOPICAL APPLICATION

The increasing demand for efficient administration and delivery of Pharmaceutical dosage forms possessing the attributes namely minimum side effects, improved patient compliance has resulted in the formulation of novel drug delivery system. The revolutionary technology of drug delivery is off late being focused on the transdermal route in contrast to the conventional oral route. More over the bioavailability is poor and the onset of action is slow for most of the drugs, which are sparingly suitable in water. Ethosomes are very effective since they enhance the penetration of drugs via skin to several times whose compound to the simple creams, elixirs and liposomal carriers. Hence, there is an absolute necessity to formulate Isradipine as Ethosomes in order to increase the penetration of the drug through the skin. This would avoid the inherent defects of Isradipine administrated via oral route. Preparation of Isradipine Ethosomes involves the procedure as described. 20-40% of Ethanol, 10% of propylene glycol, 2-5% of phospholipids, 0-0.05g of cholesterol and an aqueous part of 100% w/w, were taken At room temperature 0.025g of Isradipine was added to ethanol in a covered vessel along with propylene glycol and dissolved by vigorous stirring. In a separate vessel, the mixture was heated to 30 c and this was added to the mixture in the centre of the vessel by stirring at 700 rpm for 5 min in a covered vessel. Then by Sonication method the vesicle size of Isradipine Ethosomes was reduced to the desirable extent and the formulation was kept under refrigeration. The same procedure was followed for the preparation of Unsonicated Ethosomes, except that they were not sonicated. Isradipine Liposome's were also prepared. They were prepared by the Cast Film method. The prepared formulations are tested for various physiochemical parmaeters and positive results are obtained and the best/optimized formulations are selected by the better drug release from the formulations prepared. Optimized formulations are subjected to in vivo studies and observed for in vivo blood pressure response in the BP induced animals and positive results are observed in the given time periods. Key words: Isradipine, Ethosomes, Sonicator