The Effect of Nanoemulsion as a Carrier of Hydrophilic Compound for Transdermal Delivery

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of nanoemulsions as a carrier vehicle of hydrophilic drug for transdermal delivery. The response surface methodology with a mixture design was used to evaluate the effect of ingredient levels of nanoemulsion formulations including cosurfactant (isopropyl alcohol, 20 similar to 30%), surfactant (mixed of Brij 30 and Brij 35, 20 similar to 30%), and distilled-water (34.5 similar to 50.0%) on properties of the drug-loaded nanoemulsions including physicochemical characters and drug permeability through rat skin. The result showed that the hydrophilic drug in aqueous solution with or without penetration enhancer could not transport across rat skin after 12 h of application. Used nanoemulsions as carrier vehicle, the permeation rate of drug was significantly increased from 0 to 63.23 mu g/cm(2)/h and the lag time was shortened from more than 12 h to about 2.7 similar to 4.0 h. Moreover, the drug-loaded nanoemulsion formulation also showed physicochemical stability after 3 month storage at 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C.