DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF SOY LECITHIN-BASED TRANSFERSOMES TO ENHANCED TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF ETORICOXIB FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

This research aims to develop a soy lecithin-based transfersome for the transdermal delivery of Etoricoxib, intended to enhance pain management and provide therapeutic benefits for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study began with a preformulation assessment of Etoricoxib, which included identifying physical characteristics (such as appearance, melting point, and IR spectra), solubility profile, and determining λ-max to guide formulation procedures. Formulation optimization involved assessing the effects of different process variables, including varying amounts of lecithin and surfactant. Transfersomes were prepared using a modified hand-shaking method, with Tween 80 as the surfactant in multiple concentrations. Entrapment efficiency depended on the ratio of lecithin to Tween 80, reaching a peak of 72.34±0.022 in formulation F5. Vesicle size, which also influenced entrapment efficiency, averaged 9.69 µm in the F5 formulation. Drug permeation from the transfersomal gel was similarly influenced by the lecithin-to-Tween 80 ratio. Formulation F5, exhibiting high entrapment efficiency, demonstrated superior drug permeation. This study suggests that a PC : Tween 80 ratio of 90:10 (mmol) in transfersomes could be a promising strategy for enhancing the permeability and effectiveness of Etoricoxib over time. The values of the release exponent for both formulations were relatively low, indicating a Fickian diffusion mechanism for the release of the drug. Overall, these results highlight the different kinetic behaviors of the two formulations, with the hydrogel showing a more consistent release pattern as described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model.