Optimization of surfactant concentration of miconazole nitrate loaded nanostructured lipid carrier

Abstract

The objective of this research is to optimize the concentration of four emulsifiers, including lecithin, Tween 80, Lutrol F127, and sodium deoxycholate. The microemulsion method was employed to produce nanostructure lipid carrier (NLC) loading miconazole nitrate. The physicochemical properties of the NLC, such as particle size, span, stability factor (KE), and entrapment efficiency were investigated. The Design Expert 7.1.5 software with the D-optimal model was used to design the experiments and optimize the formulation. The results showed that the optimized concentration of four surfactants was 10% lecithin: 79.97% Tween 80: 1.37% Lutrol F127: 8.66% sodium deoxycholate. The NLC dispersion had small average particle size (42.69 nm), small span (1.2), stability factor KE = 0.028 < 0.15, and high entrapment efficiency (78.17%). It is concluded that the ratio of four emulsifiers used in the formulation of miconazole nitrate loaded nanostructured lipid carrier was successfully optimized with the D-optimal model.