Formulation, characterisation and in vivo evaluation of lipid-based nanocarrier for topical delivery of diflunisal

Diflunisal (DIF) is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis. The current engrossment was aimed at formulation and assessment of DIF-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for topical/dermal application. SLNs formulated by hot homogenisation method based on microemulsification technique were spherical with a mean size of 124.0 +/- 2.07nm; PDI 0.294 +/- 0.15. The cumulative amount permeated/area was 109.99 +/- 0.008 mu g/cm(2), along with permeation flux (6.30 +/- 0.09 mu g/cm(2)/h) and skin retention (11.74 +/- 0.155 mu g/cm(2)) across mice skin. The SLNs of DIF showed significant decrease in fluid volume, granuloma tissue weight, leukocyte count/mm(3) after application of SLN formulation in mice air pouch model. Similarly, in mice ear oedema and rat paw oedema model, there was 2.30 and 1.29 time increase in percentage inhibition of oedema after SLN formulation application, respectively, as compared with conventional cream. Hence, the SLNs of DIF may prove to be a potential nanocarrier to effectively treat the local inflammatory conditions associated with arthritis.