Elastic liposomes mediated transdermal delivery of verapamil hydrochloride

The aim of present investigation was to formulate and characterize elastic liposomes as a delivery system for transdermal delivery of Verapamil hydrochloride, a drug having low oral bioavailability (approx 20%), short biological half-life and extensive first pass metabolism.Verapamil hydrochloride loaded elastic vesicles were prepared by a slightly modified extrusion method using soya phosphatidylcholine and span 80(edge activator). Prepared elastic vesicles were characterized for various parameters such as vesicle shape, vesicle size and size distribution, entrapment efficiency, elasticity measurements, stability studies and in vitro skin permeation studies through excised rat skin (Sprague Dawley) using a locally fabricated Franz diffusion cell. The entrapment efficiency of elastic vesicles was found to be 59.3±3.6%. In vitro skin permeation of verapamil hydrochloride through excised rat skin (Sprague Dawley) revealed that elastic vesicles led to an enhanced transdermal flux (50.2±4.52 mg/cm2/h) of verapamil hydrochloride as compared to liposomes (11.6±2.12mg/cm2/h). Decreased lag time (0.9 h) was also observed in case of elastic liposomes. Our results indicate the feasibility of elastic liposomes for transdermal delivery of verapamil hydrochloride for improved skin permeation. Keywords: Transdermal delivery, Elastic liposomes, Verapamil hydrochloride.