Formulation and Clinical Evaluation of Triamcinolone Acetonide Niosomes: Effect of Iontophoresis on the Permeation Across Skin

Triamcinolone acetonide niosomes were prepared by thin film hydration technique using surfactants Brij 52, Span 20, cetrimide and cholesterol by 23 factorial design. Niosomes were evaluated for their morphology, vesicle size, in vitro drug release and skin permeation study using human skin. From the factorial design it was found that the cetrimide used in the formulation had greater effect on the entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release and skin permeability and the particle size was found to be in the range of 50-80 nm. Clinical study was carried out using histamine wheal suppression test for the niosomal formulation and was compared with marketed product on healthy human volunteers with and without iontophoresis. It was found that niosomal formulation with iontophoresis at 15 min has more effect than at 60 min and 120 min when compared to the marketed product.