Development and Evaluation of Etodolac-Loaded Niosomal Gel for Sustained Drug Release

: Niosomes, vesicular systems formed from non-ionic surfactants, offer benefits such as enhanced stability, controlled drug release, and improved skin penetration. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate niosomal gels for etodolac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, to achieve sustained drug release and enhanced topical application. The study involves the preparation of niosomal suspensions with varying concentrations of surfactants (Span 60) and cholesterol, followed by incorporation into a gel base of carbopol 934. The formulation was evaluated for physical appearance, viscosity, pH, irritancy,drug content and diffusion studies. The optimized formulation (F4) demonstrated good homogeneity, spreadability and a pH range suitable for skin application. It showed sustained drug release of 83.8% at the end of 6 hours in diffusion studies, demonstrating better performance compared to the marketed Etodolac gel. Entrapment efficiency for the optimized formulation was 77%, and the gel was non-irritant based on the HET-CAM assay. In conclusion, this study suggests etodolac loaded niosomal gel was successfully developed and can be a promising strategy for providing localized and sustained drug delivery, minimizing systemic side effects and enhancing patient compliance.