Development and Characterization of Non-ionic Surfactant Vesicles (niosomes) for Oral Delivery of Norfloxacin

Norfloxacin is a synthetic chemotherapeutic antibacterial agent occasionally used to treat common as well as complicated urinary tract infections. Here we aiming to control the plasma concentrations of drug maintained throughout 24 h dosing interval with less peak trough fluctuation than that observed with twice daily dosing of immediate release norfloxacin. The short biological half-life (about 4 h) and dosing frequency more than once a day, low bioavailability (3040%) and low solubility of this drug make it an ideal candidate for sustained release. 1 Nowadays considerable interest has been focused on niosomes based targeted drug delivery. Niosomes are non-ionic surfactant vesicles obtained on hydration of synthetic nonionic surfactants, with or without incorporation of cholesterol or other lipids. They are vesicular systems similar to liposomes that can be used as carriers of amphiphilic and lipophilic drugs. Niosomes are promising vehicle for drug delivery and being non-ionic, it is less toxic and improves the therapeutic index of drug by restricting its action to target cells. This article deals the method of preparation, characterizations, factors affecting release kinetic, advantages, and applications of niosomes. 2 Niosomal drug delivery has been studied using various methods of administration including intramuscular intravenous, peroral and transdermal. In addition, as drug delivery vesicles, niosomes have been shown to enhance absorption of some drugs across cell membranes, to localize in targeted organs and tissues and to elude the reticulo endothelial system 3 .