Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) enriched hydrogels for transdermal delivery of flurbiprofen: formulation, in vitro characterisation, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies in animals

Aqueous dispersions of flurbiprofen solid lipid nanoparticles (FLUSLN) and flurbiprofen nanostructured lipid carriers (FLUNLC) by hot homogenisation followed by sonication technique were prepared and then incorporated into the freshly prepared hydrogels for transdermal delivery. They are characterised for particle size, DSC, shape and surface morphology, in vitro drug release, rheological behaviour and in vivo studies. The pharmacokinetics of flurbiprofen in rats following application of SLN gel (A1) and NLC gel (B1) for 24h were evaluated. The Cmax of the NLC gel formulation was 38.67 ± 2.77 μg/ml, which was significantly higher than the SLN gel formulation (Cmax = 21.79 ± 2.96 μg/ml). The bioavailability of flurbiprofen with reference to oral administration was found to increase by 4.4 times when gel formulations were applied. Anti-inflammatory effect in the carrageenan-induced paw edema in rat was significantly higher for NLC gel and SLN gel formulation than the orally administered flurbiprofen. Both the SLN and NLC dispersions and gels enriched with SLN and NLC possessed a sustained drug release over period of 24h.