OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 5-FLUOROURACIL TRANSETHOSOMES FOR SKIN CANCER THERAPY USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

The purpose of the present study was to develop, optimize and characterize 5-Fluorouracil transethosomes for skin cancer targeting. 5- Fluorouracil transethosomes were prepared by cold method using phospholipon 90G as the lipid and sodium cholate as edge activator. The size reduction was done by probe sonication. Central composite design was used for optimization procedure with different concentration of phospholipon 90G and sodium cholate as independent variables. The response variables selected were particle size and entrapment efficiency. Particle size and entrapment efficiency depends on the quantity of the above independent variables. Mathematical equation and response surface plots were used to relate the dependent and independent variables. The optimized model predicted a particle size of 57nm and entrapment efficiency of 92.06%. Transethosomes proved to be superior in terms of, amount of drug permeated in the skin as compared to conventional 1% flonida cream. The results suggests that transethosomes are efficient carriers for transdermal delivery of 5- Fluorouracil.