Development and Evaluation of Nano-Vesicular Emulsion-Based Gel as a Promising Approach for Dermal Atorvastatin Delivery Against Inflammation.

Introduction: Atorvastatin (ATV), a medication used to reduce cholesterol levels, possesses properties that can counteract the damaging effects of free radicals and reduce inflammation. However, the administration of ATV orally is associated with low systemic bioavailability due to its limited capacity to dissolve in water and significant first-pass effect. This study aimed to assess the appropriateness of employing nano-vesicles for transdermal administration of ATV in order to enhance its anti-inflammatory effects.

Methods: ATV-loaded transethosomes (ATV-TEs) were optimized using the 3 Box-Behnken design. The ATV-TEs that were created were evaluated for their vesicle size, encapsulation efficiency (% EE), and percent release of drug. The optimum formulation was integrated into a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) emulsion-based gel (ATV-TEs emulgel) using jojoba oil. ATV-TEs emulgel was examined for its physical characteristics, ex vivo permeability, histological, and anti-inflammatory effect in a rat model of inflamed paw edema.

Results: The optimized transethosomes exhibited a vesicle size of 158.00 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 80.14 ± 1.42%. Furthermore, the use of transethosomal vesicles effectively prolonged the release of ATV for a duration of 24 hours, in contrast to the pure drug suspension. In addition, the transethosomal emulgel loaded with ATV exhibited a 3.8-fold increase in the transdermal flow of ATV, in comparison to the pure drug suspension. ATV-TEs emulgel demonstrated a strong anti-inflammatory impact in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model.

Discussion: This was evident from the significant reduction in paw edema, which was equivalent to the effect of the standard anti-inflammatory medicine, Diclofenac sodium.

Conclusion: In summary, transethosomes, as a whole, might potentially serve as an effective method for delivering drugs via the skin. This could improve the ability of ATV to reduce inflammation by increasing its absorption through the skin.