Formulation Development and Evaluation of Nano Vesicular Gel of Pioglitazone for the Management of Diabetes

Objective: The objective of the present work was to formulate nano vesicular gel for transdermal delivery of Pioglita zone and investigate its anti-diabetic potential.

Methods: Transferosomes were prepared by conventional rotary evaporation method, using various combinations of soya phosphatidylcholine (SPC), edge activators and pioglitazone (PZ). The optimized batch showed vesicle size 128.2nm, polydispersity index (PDI) 0.107, zeta potential -31.22mv and drug entrapment efficiency (EE) 75.99%. It was further incorporated in Carbopol 934 base gel and the prepared gel was evaluated for morphology, spread ability, in vitro and ex vivo release study, kinetics study. Anti- diabetic activity was evaluated by streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes model and it showed 72.85% reduction in sugar level at the end of 12 h by drug loaded transferosomal gel whereas marketed formulation showed 67.63% reduction in sugar level at the end of 12 h respectively.

Conclusion: The present study revealed the potential of transferosomes for successfully carrying PZ and demonstrated appreciable decrease in glucose levels after the induction of diabetes in wistar rats. The prepared system has shown enhanced delivery of PZ via skin.