Planta Med 2023; 89(08): 848-855
DOI: 10.1055/a-1789-3112
Formulation and Delivery Systems of Natural Products
Original Papers

Development and Evaluation of Khellin-loaded Microemulgel for Dermatological Applications[ # ]

Lucia Grifoni
1   Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
,
Giulia Vanti
1   Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
,
Maria Giuliana Vannucchi
2   Section of Histology and Embryology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
,
1   Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
,
Anna Rita Bilia
1   Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Supported by: Fondazione CR Firenze (Florence) grant “Costituenti bioattivi naturali veicolati in nanocarriers: valutazione dellʼefficacia di curcumina e cannabinoidi nella dermatite atopica”

Abstract

Microemulsions are optically nanosized emulsions, isotropic and thermodynamically stable. They represent versatile drug delivery systems with high potential because they can be administered regardless of route. In the present study, we report on the formulation of a microemulsion made with glycerol (2.25%), Labrasol (20.25%) vitamin E acetate (2.50%), and water (75.00%), which was developed using the pseudo-ternary phase diagram. Globules of the microemulsion had PdI less than 0.25 and size of about 17 nm, evaluated by DLS analysis. These values did not change after loading khellin, a natural lipophilic molecule with interesting biological activities, used as a model of lipophilic drug. Carboxymethyl cellulose was selected as gelling polymer to obtain a microemulgel. Viscosity was 22 100.0 ± 1555.6 mPas·s at 21 ± 2 °C, while it was 8916.5 ± 118.1 mPas·s at 35 ± 2 °C, remaining stable over time. Khellin recovery was 93.16 ± 4.39% and was unchanged after 4 weeks of storage (93.23 ± 2.14%). The pH was 6.59 ± 0.19 and it was found to be 6.42 ± 0.34 at the end of the storage lifetime. The diffusion of khellin from the developed formulation was prolonged over an extended period. Based on overall results and due to the dermatological properties of the ingredients of the formulation, the developed microemulgel loaded with khellin is very promising and suitable for skin care applications.

# Dedicated to Professor Dr. Gerhard Franz on the occasion of his 85th birthday.




Publication History

Received: 07 January 2022

Accepted after revision: 03 March 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
04 March 2022

Article published online:
25 May 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
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