Preparation Of Deep Eutectic Mixture Gel Containing Prednisolone For Skin Delivery

Abstract

The Development and Characterization of a Deep Eutectic Mixture-Based Topical Gel for Sustained Delivery of Prednisolone Topical Drug Delivery Systems offer advantages such as localized treatment and avoidance of hepatic first-pass metabolism, yet their efficacy is often limited by the stratum corneum and the poor solubility of many potent drugs. This thesis addresses the low aqueous solubility of prednisolone, a widely used corticosteroid, by developing a specialized topical formulation for sustained drug release. The primary objective was to enhance prednisolone solubility and incorporate it into an optimized topical gel. This was achieved through the innovative use of a Deep Eutectic Mixture (DES), specifically prepared with Choline Bitartrate and Benzoic acid. The resulting Deep Eutectic Mixture System (DESM) successfully solubilized the prednisolone, making it suitable for dermal application. The DESM was then integrated into a topical gel using Carbopol 934P as the gelling agent. Various formulations were prepared and rigorously evaluated for critical physicochemical properties, including pH (optimally ranging from 7.18 \pm 0.015 to 7.36 \pm 0.021), spread ability, and viscosity. The optimized formulation, designated F18, demonstrated superior performance, achieving a significant drug release of 86.94 \pm 1.23\% over 24 hours in in vitro studies. Kinetic modelling confirmed that the drug release from the optimized gel followed the Higuchi model (R^2=0.996), which is characteristic of a sustained-release mechanism. The results indicate that the combination of DESM technology with a topical gel formulation is a highly effective strategy for creating a novel and stable delivery system that significantly enhances the solubility and provides sustained bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs like prednisolone for improved therapeutic outcomes.