Fabrication, Optimization, and Pharmacological Assessment of Apigenin-Loaded Nanoemulsion Gels: A Novel Topical Approach for the Treatment Urinary Tract Infections
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52783/jns.v14.2777Keywords:
Nanoemulsion, Nanogel, Antibacterial, Uropathogens, Apigenin, UTIsAbstract
The present study focused on the formulation, characterization, and evaluation of a nanoemulsion-based gel incorporating apigenin, chitosan, and eucalyptus oil for enhanced drug delivery and antibacterial activity. Three formulations—blank nanoemulsion, chitosan-based nanoemulsion gel, and eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion—were developed and subjected to physicochemical characterization and thermodynamic stability testing. The formulations exhibited optimal droplet size (59.54–87.48 nm), zeta potential (-22.4 to +27.2 mV), and polydispersity index (0.119–0.338), ensuring colloidal stability. FTIR analysis confirmed successful drug incorporation without significant chemical interactions. The drug content was 95.80 ± 1.26% for the nanoemulsion and 93.75 ± 1.30% for the nanoemulsion gel, indicating efficient entrapment. The in vitro drug release study demonstrated a sustained release profile, with NEMULF2 (nanoemulsion) releasing 81.56% and NEMULGF3 (nanoemulsion gel) releasing 71.87% over 12 hours, confirming the gel’s controlled-release properties. The antibacterial study revealed a concentration-dependent inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24.86 mm at 500 µg/mL) and Escherichia coli (26.65 mm at 500 µg/mL), significantly surpassing the pure drug's efficacy. The findings suggest that nanoemulsion-based gels enhance drug stability, bioavailability, and antimicrobial efficacy, making them promising candidates for topical therapeutic applications.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Kaur A, Gupta S, Tyagi A, Sharma RK, Ali J, Gabrani R, et al. Development of nanoemulsion based gel loaded with phytoconstituents for the treatment of urinary tract infection and in vivo biodistribution studies. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin. 2017;7(4):611.
Kaur A, Gabrani R, Dang S. Nanoemulsions of green tea catechins and other natural compounds for the treatment of urinary tract infection: antibacterial analysis. Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin. 2019;9(3):401.
Smoleński M, Karolewicz B, Gołkowska AM, Nartowski KP, Małolepsza-Jarmołowska K. Emulsion-based multicompartment vaginal drug carriers: from nanoemulsions to nanoemulgels. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021;22(12):6455.
Kothapalli L, Ozarkar R, Modak P, Deshkar S, Thomas A. Preparation and Evaluation of Nanoemulgel with Seed Oils for Skin Care. Current Nanomedicine (Formerly: Recent Patents on Nanomedicine). 2024;14(1):73-83.
Szumała P, Macierzanka A. Topical delivery of pharmaceutical and cosmetic macromolecules using microemulsion systems. Int J Pharm. 2022;615:121488.
Donthi MR, Munnangi SR, Krishna KV, Marathe SA, Saha RN, Singhvi G, et al. Formulating Ternary Inclusion Complex of Sorafenib Tosylate Using β-Cyclodextrin and Hydrophilic Polymers: Physicochemical Characterization and In Vitro Assessment. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2022;23(7):254.
Patil AS, Chougale SS, Kokatanr U, Hulyalkar S, Hiremath RD, Japti V, et al. Formulation and evaluation of itraconazole-loaded nanoemulgel for efficient topical delivery to treat fungal infections. Therapeutic Delivery. 2024(0).
Ranjbar R, Zarenezhad E, Abdollahi A, Nasrizadeh M, Firooziyan S, Namdar N, et al. Nanoemulsion and nanogel containing Cuminum cyminum L essential oil: antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, and antilarval properties. Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2023;2023.
Zhou LJ, Li FR, Huang LJ, Yang ZR, Yuan S, Bai LH. Antifungal Activity of Eucalyptus Oil against Rice Blast Fungi and the Possible Mechanism of Gene Expression Pattern. Molecules. 2016;21(5).
Burki IK, Khan MK, Khan BA, Uzair B, Braga VA, Jamil QA. Formulation development, characterization, and evaluation of a novel dexibuprofen-capsaicin skin emulgel with improved in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2020;21:1-14.
Ali M, Khan NR, Basit HM, Mahmood S. Physico-chemical based mechanistic insight into surfactant modulated sodium Carboxymethylcellulose film for skin tissue regeneration applications. Journal of Polymer Research. 2020;27:1-11.
Alexander A, Khichariya A, Gupta S, Patel RJ, Giri TK, Tripathi DK. Recent expansions in an emergent novel drug delivery technology: Emulgel. Journal of Controlled Release. 2013;171(2):122-32.
El-Refaie WM, Elnaggar YSR, El-Massik MA, Abdallah OY. Novel curcumin-loaded gel-core hyaluosomes with promising burn-wound healing potential: development, in-vitro appraisal and in-vivo studies. International journal of pharmaceutics. 2015;486(1-2):88-98.
Khan BA, Asmat Y, Khan TH, Qayum M, Alshahrani SM, Menaa F, et al. Novel insight into potential leishmanicidal activities of transdermal patches of nigella sativa: formulation development, physical characterizations, and in vitro/in vivo assays. ASSAY and Drug Development Technologies. 2021;19(6):339-49.
Kataki MS. Antibacterial activity, in vitro antioxidant activity and anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extract of Ananas comosus L. tender leaves. Pharmacology online. 2010;2:308-19.
Kataki MS, Sharma N, Kumar S, Yadav S, Rajkumari A. Antibacterial activity, in vitro antioxidant activity and anthelmintic activity of methanolic extract of Plumbago zeylanica L. Leaves. Journal of Pharmacy Research. 2010;3(12):2908-12.
Mukherjee P, Balasubramanian R, Saha K, Saha B, Pal M. Antibacterial efficiency of Nelumbo nucifera (Nymphaeaceae) rhizomes extract. 1995.
Proksch E. pH in nature, humans and skin. The Journal of dermatology. 2018;45(9):1044-52.
Wagner H, Kostka K-H, Lehr C-M, Schaefer UF. pH profiles in human skin: influence of two in vitro test systems for drug delivery testing. European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics. 2003;55(1):57-65.
Schmid-Wendtner MH, Korting HC. The pH of the skin surface and its impact on the barrier function. Skin pharmacology and physiology. 2006;19(6):296-302.
Cardenas G, Miranda SP. FTIR and TGA studies of chitosan composite films. Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society. 2004;49(4):291-5.
Pant M, Dubey S, Patanjali PK, Naik SN, Sharma S. Insecticidal activity of eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion with karanja and jatropha aqueous filtrates. International biodeterioration & biodegradation. 2014;91:119-27.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
