Development of niosomal formulations loaded with cyclosporine A and evaluation of its compatibility

Purpose: To formulate niosomes of cyclosporine A using nonionic surfactants, and to use the attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) technique to explore solid/liquid interfacial phenomena as well as compatibility between active drug and pharmaceutical excipients. Methods: Niosomes of cyclosporine A were prepared using the thin-film hydration method. Cholesterol and non-ionic surfactants, including polyethylene glycol sorbitan monostearate (Tween 60) and sorbitan monostearate (Span 60), were used as excipients. The ATR-FTIR spectra of all the ingredients, their physical mixtures, and niosomal formulations were studied. The niosomes were characterized for size, polydispersivity index (PDI), zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. Results: Six niosomal formulations (F 1 – F 6 ) were successfully developed. Niosomal formulation F 2 prepared at the ratio of 6:4 surfactant to cholesterol, presented the highest entrapment efficiency of 77.28 %. The ATR-FTIR spectra of niosomal formulations did not show incompatibility. The size of the selected formulation (F 2 ) was 1049 nm while its SEM image displayed a spherical nature of the niosomes. Conclusion: The results show that cyclosporine A can be entrapped in niosomes using non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol. Furthermore, there is no significant interaction between the ingredients of niosomes and cyclosporine A. Keywords: Cyclosporine A, Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), Niosomes, Compatibility, Non-ionic surfactants