Polysorbate 20 vesicles as multi-drug carriers: in vitro preliminary evaluations

This study focuses on the physico-chemical characterization of surfactant nanovectors according to the evidence that the knowledge of nanocarrier properties is a necessary step to translate their potentiality to nanomedicine applications. In particular, in this investigation we have prepared multi-drug surfactant vesicles (niosomes) and characterized them in terms of dimensions, zeta-potential and stability. Also the potential application of analyzed carriers was evaluated in terms of lidocaine and ibuprofen entrapment efficiency and in vitro permeation experiments. The obtained results suggest the potential application of niosomes in dermal administration of the two drugs at the same time in the same pharmaceutical formulation, as useful carriers for the treatment of various skin diseases, such as acute and chronic inflammations in presence of pain.