Sorbitan monopalmitate-based proniosomes for transdermal delivery of chlorpheniramine maleate.

A proniosomal gel for transdermal drug delivery of chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) was developed based on Span 40 and extensively characterized in vitro. The system was evaluated for the effect of composition of formulation, type of surfactants and alcohols on the drug loading, rate of hydration, vesicle size, polydispersity, entrapment efficiency, and drug release across cellulose nitrate dialysis membrane. The stability studies were performed at 4 degrees C and at room temperature. The results showed that lecithin produced more stable and larger vesicles with higher loading efficiency but lower dissolution efficiency than cholesterol (chol) and dicethyl phosphate (DCP). The type of alcohol had no significant effect on the stability of vesicles, but ethanol produced larger vesicles (approximately equal to 44 microm) and entrapped a greater amount of drug. Drug release from vesicles of lecithin followed a first-order kinetics whereas those with DCP or without lecithin fit better with a Higuchi model. The proniosomes that contained Span 40/lecithin/chol prepared by ethanol showed optimum stability, loading efficiency, and particle size and release kinetic suitable for transdermal delivery of CPM.