FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ACECLOFENAC NIOSOMES BY USING MIXTURE OF SURFACTANTS

The present study was aimed at the overall improvement in the efficacy, reduced toxicity and enhancement of therapeutic index of aceclofenac. Niosomal delivery system of aceclofenac has beendeveloped by various techniques using mixture of Span 60/40 (surfactant) along with cholesterol in1:1 ratio. The formulations were then characterized with respect to vesicle diameter, drug content,entrapment efficiency, in-vitro drug release and release kinetics. The formulated aceclofenac niosomes were discrete and round in shape. The lowest entrapment efficiency was found to be 75% (F2) and was highest in reverse phase evaporation method 95% (F5). Percentage cumulative drug release was well retarded for up to 24 h in F5 (59%) compared to all other formulations and its release pattern was analysed by using various mathematical models and found to follow under zero order kinetics. From thet50% values of F5, it is concluded that the reverse phase evaporation method seems to extend the drug release for prolonged period.