Development and Evaluation of Dapsone Loaded Topical Liposomes

Abstract

Topical liposomal drug delivery is becoming promising system with several advantages like skin deposition, controlled release, targeted action and reduced drug quantity etc. Topical treatments are used for various diseases and disorders. Acne vulgaris is a worldwide skin disease. For acne treatments oral, injectable routes are used but topical route is the better route for site delivery. Dapsone, as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drug has been recommended in topical acne treatment. Multilamellar vesicles (MLV) of dapsone were prepared using conventional thin film hydration method. Optimization techniques were used to determine, formulation with high drug entrapment efficiency and optimum vesicle size. Soya lecithin and cholesterol were used as independent variables. The prepared liposomes were characterized for size, shape, entrapment efficiency, zeta potential, in-vitro drug release (by Franz diffusion cell) and skin deposition. Maximum entrapment was found to be 33.44%. In skin permeation study, liposomal gels resulted in significantly slower drug release than equivalent plain gels. Liposomal gels were found to have 2-3 fold increase in the skin deposition than plain gel, indicating liposome forms depots in skin layers and thus providing a better option to deal with skin-cited acne vulgaris. Amongst different storage conditions (kept for 2 months), the liposomes stored at 2 to 8 °C were found to be most stable, as compare to room temperature and 45 °C.