Topical delivery of Idebenone using nanostructured lipid carriers: evaluations of sun-protection and anti-oxidant effects

The objective of present study was to develop nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for topical delivery of antioxidant drug and evaluation of its sun protection efficacy. In the present study attempts have been made to formulate Idebenone loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (INLC) by using solvent precipitation method. Preformulation study evidenced for selection of Captex 500 P as an oil phase in which Idebenone has saturation solubility of 0.266 ± 0.032 g/ml. Compritol 888 ATO and ethanol were selected as solid lipid and solvent respectively. Surfactant and co-surfactant as Labrasol and Transcutol P have given stable formulations on the basis of HLB required for stabilization, respect to oil phase. INLC has particle size of 605 ± 4.01 nm and %EE of 82.58 ± 2.20 %. Optimized batches were subjected for crystallographic investigation, in vitro skin permeation study, drug deposition study, SPF determination and antioxidant activity. XRD, DSC studies illustrated that partial amorphization of Idebenone by molecularly dispersion within lipid blend leads for entrapment of drug. Permeation data showed that optimized INLC has flux value (Jss) of 7.87 μg cm^?2 h^?1. High significance (P < 0.001) of drug deposition in skin was observed between INLC and plain Idebenone gel. SPF value for INLC has 23 which represents that lipid nanocarriers have standards of blocking of 94–96 % of UVB rays. Such high skin deposition and SPF leads to more antioxidant effect of formulations. Hence lipid nanocarriers such as NLC have potential as an antioxidant and sun protection for topical drug delivery.