In this study, gliclazide-loaded cubosomal particles were prepared for improving the oral bioavailability and antidiabetic activity of gliclazide. Four formulations of gliclazide-loaded cubosomal nanoparticles dispersions were prepared by the emulsification method using four different concentrations of glyceryl monooleate (GMO) and poloxamer 407 (P407) as the stabilizer. The prepared formulations were in vitro and in vivo evaluated. In vitro, the prepared gliclazide-loaded cubosomal dispersions exhibited disaggregated regular poly-angular particles with a nanometer-sized particle range from 220.60 ± 1.39 to 234.00 ± 2.90 nm and entrapped 73.84 ± 3.03 to 88.81 ± 0.94 of gliclazide. In vitro gliclazide release from cubosomal nanoparticles revealed an initially higher drug release during the first 2 h in acidic pH medium; subsequently, a comparatively higher drug release in alkaline medium relative to gliclazide suspension was observed. An in vivo absorption study in rats revealed a two-fold increase in the bioavailability of gliclazide cubosomal formulation relative to plain gliclazide suspension. Moreover, the study of in vivo hypoglycemic activity indicated that a higher percentage reduction in glucose level was observed after the administration of gliclazide cubosomal nanoparticles to rats. In conclusion, gliclazide-loaded cubosomal nanoparticles could be a promising delivery system for improving the oral absorption and antidiabetic activity of gliclazide.

The objective of this study was to enhance the corneal permeation of gatifloxacin (GTX) using cubosomal nanoparticle as a delivery system. Cubosomal nanoparticle loaded with GTX was prepared and subjected for in vitro and in vivo investigations. The prepared GTX-loaded cubosomal particles exhibited nanoparticle size of 197.46 ± 9.40 nm and entrapment efficiency of 52.8% ± 2.93. The results of ex vivo corneal permeation of GTX-loaded cubosomal dispersion show approximately 1.3-fold increase compared to GTX aqueous dispersion. The incorporation of GTX into cubosomal particles resulted in a fourfold reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value for the GTX cubosomal particles relative to GTX aqueous dispersion. Furthermore, the enhanced corneal penetration of GTX-loaded cubosomal dispersion compared was evident by a significant decrease in the area % of corneal opacity in MRSA infected rats. Moreover, these results were confirmed by photomicrographs of histological structures of corneal tissues from rats treated with GTX-cubosomal dispersion which did not present any change compared to that of the normal rat corneas. In conclusion, treatment of ocular bacterial infections and reduction in the probability of development of new resistant strains of MRSA could be accomplished with GTX-loaded cubosomal nanoparticles.