DOI: 10.36347/sajp

Pages: 30-34

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that prevents the release of substances in the body that causes inflammation. Dexamethasone is used to treat many different inflammatory conditions such as allergic disorders, breathing problems, ulcerative colitis, arthritis and skin conditions such as lupus erythematosus and psoriasis. The increased incidence of inflammatory diseases has necessitated the need to search for new topical dosage form of dexamethasone. This research was aimed to formulate, characterize and evaluate in vitro skin permeability of dexamethasone-loaded microemulsion systems as a topical delivery system of dexamethasone. Microemulsion formulations were prepared by mixing of appropriate amounts of surfactant including Tween 80 and Labrasol, cosurfactant such as Capryol 90 and oil phase including Labrafac lipophilicWL and Transcutol P (10:1). Physicochemical characterization of selected microemulsions including particle size, stability, viscosity, refractory index (RI), pH and in vitro skin permeability through rat skin using diffusion Franz cells were evaluated. The mean droplet size range of microemulsion formulation was in the range of 5.09 to 159 nm, and its refractory index (RI) and pH were 1.44 and 7, respectively. Viscosity range was 57-226 cps. Drug release profile showed that 48.18% of the drug released in 24 hours of experiment. Analysis of variance showed no significant differences between independent variables and Jss, P, Tlag and Dapp parameters of dexamethasone formulations. It can be concluded that a lower surfactant/cosurfactant ratio, improves the most permeability parameters of dexamethasone microemulsion.