Preparation and Characterization of Niosomal Carrier System of Hydrophilic Drug (Methylene Blue) for Photodynamic Therapy

The aim of this study was to develop niosomal carrier system of water-soluble drug with different cholesterol to span 60 ratios by green synthesis (GS). Methylene blue (MB), a highly hydrophilic drug, has been used as a model drug. The prepared MB loaded niosomes were characterized for size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), encapsulation efficiency (EE), morphology and in vitro drug release. The selected formulation was clinically evaluated in the treatment of epidermal melasma by photodynamic therapy (PDT). The results showed that all studied ratios of cholesterol to surfactant produced MB loaded niosomes sized from 283.0 +/- 3.2 nm to 393.2 +/- 2.2 nm. In addition; the in vitro release profile of the prepared formulations revealed that up to 57 +/- 4.4 % drug was released in 24 hr. with a sustained zero-order pattern. Also, a significant decrease in melasma area and severity index (MASI) score in the left side of the face (treated with MB niosomes) was observed than the right side of the face (treated with MB solution). Conclusively, this study suggests the potential utilization of MB loaded niosomes mediated PDT as a simple technique for the effective treatment of melasma.