Fabrication and Characterization of Sildenafil Citrate Loaded Transfersomes as a Carrier for Transdermal Drug Delivery

The aim of this study was to enhance the transdermal delivery of Sildenafil Citrate by encapsulation in nano sized ultra deformable vesicles, transfersomes. The thin film hydration and sonication technique was utilized in the preparation of Sildenafil Citrate loaded Transfersomes and both non ionic and ionic edge activators (anionic and cationic) were used in varying ratios to study their effects on the physicochemical characteristics and the release properties of the prepared formulations. Results revealed that the mean size of the prepared Sildenafil Citrate loaded nano vesicles ranged from 69.08 nm to 265.80 nm, the encapsulation efficiencies ranged from 59.90% to 92.49% and the in vitro drug release through synthetic membranes ranged from 40.21% to 99.99%. All formulations were subjected to rank order based on their physicochemical characteristics and in vitro release profiles. Transmission Electron Microscope imaging of the chosen formulations revealed the general images of transfersomes formulations and the predicted differences between the formulations. Results for the ex vivo release of the chosen formulations through isolated skin of rats ranged from 76.29% to 99.90% of the applied dose. Stability studies for the chosen formulations showed that formulations were generally stable.