Lornoxicam-Loaded Cubosomes: - Preparation and In vitro Characterization.

Cubosomes are nanosized structures self-assembled nanostructured materials used for controlling the release of the entrapped drug molecule. Lornoxicam (LXM) is a potent analgesic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug with a short half-life (3-4) hours. The present study aims to prepare LXM-loaded cubosomes with well-defined morphology, particle size, PDI, high entrapment efficiency, sustained drug release, and high zeta potential value, as a transdermal drug delivery system.       Twelve formulas of LXM-loaded cubosomal dispersions were prepared by a solvent dilution method using Glyceryl monooleate ( GMO) as polar lipid with different stabilizers as Pluronic® F127 or tween 80 and different types of hydrotrope as ethanol or propylene glycol. These formulas were evaluated for their particle size analysis & PDI, E.E. %, and in-vitro drug release to select a group of the optimum formulas, that further characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential analyzer to select the optimum dispersion. FTIR study was used to investigate the compatibility of the drug with excipients. The obtained results indicated that F3, composed of GMO, Pluronic® F127, ethanol, drug, and phosphate buffer solution pH 7.4 in the following per cents 7.28%, 1.82%, 8%, 2%, and 80.9% w/w, respectively, prepared in 20min agitation period, as the optimum formula for its high E.E. % (94.30±0.002%), small particle size (16.3±0.19nm), low PDI          (0.06±0.02), and high zeta potential value (-65.9±0.05mV), and well-defined cubic structure. FTIR study indicated no interaction between LXM and other formulas components. This study's conclusion illustrated that LXM-loaded cubosomal dispersion could be considered a promising nano-carrier for transdermal drug delivery.