Criterion for excipients screening in the development of nanoemulsion formulation of three anti-inflammatory drugs.

The present study was undertaken for screening of different excipients in the development of nanoemulsion formulations of three anti-inflammatory drugs namely ketoprofen, celecoxib (CXB) and meloxicam. Based on solubility profiles of each drug in oil, Triacetin (ketoprofen and CXB) and Labrafil (meloxicam) were selected as the oil phase. Based on maximum solubilization potential of oil in different surfactants, Cremophor-EL (ketoprofen and CXB) and Tween-80 (meloxicam) were selected as surfactants. Based on maximum nanoemulsion region in the pseudoternary phase diagrams, Transcutol-HP was selected as cosurfactant for all three drugs. 1:1 (ketoprofen and CXB) and 2:1 (meloxicam) mass ratio of surfactant to cosurfactant was selected for selection of different nanoemulsions on the basis of maximum nanoemulsion region in the phase diagrams. All selected nanoemulsion formulations were found thermodynamically stable. Results of these studies showed that all excipients were properly optimized for the development of nanoemulsion formulation of ketoprofen, CXB and meloxicam.