Development and In vitro Evaluation of a Nanoemulsion Containing Piroxicam for Topical Drug Delivery

Background: A specific type of emulsion with a compatible droplet size of 20-500 nm and a submicron size range is termed nanoemulsion (NE), often referred to as mini emulsion. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as piroxicam are employed to treat discomfort after surgery, acute gout, degenerative arthritis, and arthritis with inflammation. Objectives: With the aim of minimizing adverse medication reactions as well as enhancing compliance among patients, the study intends to develop and assess a piroxicam NE that includes oleic acid and Tween 80. It will do this by investigating the impact of the oil phase, surfactants, and cosurfactants on the product's chemical and physical characteristics. Materials and Methods: After being homogenized, Tween 80, oleic acid, and paraffin oil are emulsified with ethanol and water. Zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency, spreadability, viscosity, pH evaluation, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are being employed for the characterization of the dosage form. The procedure involves the dropwise addition of ethanol and continuous mixing. Results: According to accelerated experiments, four of the six formulations displayed good stability, suggesting their stability. This strategy is viable for NE formulations, with the entrapped drug percentage varying from 99.51 to 101.01. The range included additional factors such as drug release, texture, entrapment efficiency, spreadability, SEM zeta sizer, and polydispersity index value. Conclusions: Because of its potential negative effects, the study aimed to develop a stable NE of piroxicam for topical use by combining oleic acid, tween, paraffin, and ethanol. Because of their repelling characteristics, the charges strengthen stability, and the pH's modest acidity helps to prevent skin infections. The study promotes spontaneous emulsification as the most suitable technique for producing NEs.