Preparation, characterization and stability of silver sulfadiazine nanoliposomes

Purpose: To prepare, characterize and investigate the stability and drug release profile of silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) nanoliposomes as functions of pH, UV exposure, and/or heat. Methods: Silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) nanoliposomes were prepared. The stability and release properties of the free drug and nanoliposomal formulations of AgSD as functions of pH, UV exposure, and/or heat were analyzed. The analyses were performed at different time points. Results: The results of characterization showed that acidic, basic and neutral silver sulfadiazine nanoliposomal suspensions (AgSD NLSs) were produced as stable homogenous formulations, as indicated by low polydispersity index (PDI) and high zeta potential. The three AgSD NLSs and AgSD were unstable under different heat and/or UV conditions. The pH tended to shift towards neutrality, starting from day 1. Silver sulfadiazine nanoliposomal suspensions (AgSD NLSs) and free drug (AgSD) exhibited similar release properties (100 % of the drug was released at day 12). Conclusion: Incorporation of AgSD into nanoliposomes has no significant effect on the stability and in vitro release properties of the drug. This indicates that NLS did not change the physical characteristics of the drug. Studies that focus only on improving the lipophilicity of silver sulfadiazine may benefit from these results.