The objective of the present research was to prepare and characterize naproxen loaded niosomes by ether injection method. A total of sixteen formulations were prepared by ether injection method by varying the type and concentration of surfactant. All the formulations were evaluated for drug content, entrapment efficiency, loading capacity and drug release profiles. Based on evaluation parameters, formulation E14 prepared by ether injection method showed entrapment efficiency of 95.86%, drug content of 94.9% , zeta potential value of −31.9 mV, suggesting its higher stability and particle diameter of about 393.9 nm. In-vitro release studies also showed that of all the formulations, E14 released about 88.9% by the end of 12 hours, showing a sustained release pattern with high amount of drug release when compared to the other formulations. Drug release kinetic studies of optimized formulation (E14) followed zero order release with R2 value of 0.987 and showed super case 2 transport mechanism. Based on the results, tween 80 with 1:1 ratio of drug to surfactant was considered as the best formulation for the preparation of naproxen loaded niosomes by ether injection method.

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The main objective of this study is to formulate etoricoxib niosomes as vesicular carriers for site specific drug delivery. Niosomes are novel vesicular carriers, in which the drug is incorporated in a vesicle. Niosomal vesicles are formed by hydrating mixture of cholesterol and nonionic surfactants. Niosomes can increase the permeability of the skin (stratum corneum and epidermis), by avoiding the first pass metabolism and also reduce the side effects. Etoricoxib is a potent new COX-2 inhibitor used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute gout arthritis etc. Two formulations were prepared by thin film hydration technique using the drug, cholesterol and surfactants Tween 80 (F1) and Span 60 (F2). Another two formulations were prepared by ether injection method using cholesterol and surfactants Tween 80 (F3) and Span 60 (F4). Each formulation was evaluated for drug content, entrapment efficiency, mean vesicular diameter, zeta potential and In-vitro drug release studies. Among the four formulations, F2 formulation containing the drug and Span 60 showed maximal drug content of 95.57%, entrapment efficiency of 96.40%, mean vesicular diameter of 463.7 nm, zeta potential of -80.5 mV, in-vitro drug release of 95.14% in 12 h, and the drug release followed the first order with non-fickian diffusion mechanism by thin film hydration technique. Hence, the thin film hydration technique is an optimized technique for the preparation of etoricoxib niosomes.

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Nanotechnology provides a wide technological platform for varying range of potential applications. Nanotechnology is the design, characterization, synthesis and application of materials, structures, devices and systems by controlling shape and size at nanometer scale, 1-100nm. Nanotechnology is being employed in the pharmaceutical field to improve drug solubility, bioavailability and delivery to various sites of action. To overcome the limitations in cellular uptake of highly active molecules, the use of nano carriers is the focus of modern drug delivery. Strategies like Nanosponges for enhancing solubility of poorly water soluble drugs, Nanocantilevers for detection of biomarkers of cancer, Quantum dots for medical imaging, Dendrimers for photodynamic therapy and gene transfection, Solid lipid nanoparticles as cosmeceuticals are employed. Nanodevices like respirocytes and microbivore are used for temporary replacement for natural blood cells in case of emergencies. In this review, therapeutic applications of various nano-structured materials have been discussed.