Characterization of Dexamethasone Containing Lipid-Based Self Nano Emulsified Drug Release System

Lipid-based drug delivery systems are promising systems for hydrophobic drug delivery. A lipid-based self-nano-emulsified ocular drug release system has been synthesized for improving the topical ocular delivery of hydrophobic drugs. The aim is to develop preformulation that reaches the vitreal fluid, bypassing the ocular barriers, without requiring intravitreal injection. To eliminate the complications, dexamethasone (Dex) is applied in the lipid-based system called the self-nano-emulsified drug release system (DexSNEDDS). DexSNEDDS was synthesized via different oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants suitable for ophthalmic use. The resulting system was characterized by Raman, UV, FTIR Spectra, DSC, and SEM. Dex was loaded into lipids in ratios of 31.35% Labrasol/Span 80 (1:1), 31.35% transcutol, and 17.64% oleic acid. DexSNEDDS was applied to HUVEC cells, and MTT cell viability experiments were performed to determine the cytotoxicity. The size of the prepared lipid spheres was approximately 50–200 nm according to SEM images. Zeta sizer results confirm the SEM image evaluations. Differential scanning calorimeter measurements of Dex and DexSNEDDS show characteristic peaks between 221 and 261 ℃. The fingerprint region of Dex is seen in peaks between 1700 and 1600 cm⁻¹ in Raman spectra and at 1740, 1640, 1350, 1070, and 887 cm⁻¹ in FTIR spectra, and the regions emerged in the spectra of DexSNEDDS. The viability results revealed that the difference between DexSNEDDs in treated and untreated cells was not statistically significant, and DexSNEDDS is safe for in vivo testing.