Novel niosomal formulations containing cinnarizine were developed to enhance its drug characteristics. In this work, niosomes (non-ionic surfactant vesicles) were prepared by conventional thin-film hydration (TFH) and microfluidic (MF) methods with sorbitan monostearate (Span^® 60), cholesterol, and co-surfactants (Cremophor^® ELP, Cremophor^® RH40 and Solutol^® HS15) as key excipients. The aim was to study the effect of cinnarizine on the characteristics of different niosomal formulations manufactured by using different methods. For effective targeted oral drug delivery, the efficacy of niosomes for therapeutic applications is correlated to their physiochemical properties. Niosome vesicles prepared were characterised using dynamic light scattering technique and the morphology of niosomes dispersion was characterised using optical microscopy. Dialysis was carried out to purify niosome suspensions to determine drug loading and drug release studies was performed to study the potential use of niosomal systems for cinnarizine.

This work aimed to investigate and optimise the effects of co-surfactants, hydration volume, and time on the entrapment of methylene blue (MB) within niosomes and the vesicle sizes of MB-loaded niosomes upon different storage temperatures. Niosomes were prepared by the thin film hydration method followed by gel permeation chromatography to obtain purified niosome suspensions. The probe sonication method was used to reduce the niosome vesicle size and distribution. Highest entrapment efficiencies (%EE) were determined for niosomal formulations containing Span^® 60, cholesterol, and Cremophor^® ELP (E2 and E3), which were prepared with a hydration volume of 5 mL. The hydration time was 15 min for E2 and 60 min for E3 (%EE = 40.1 ± 7.9% and 32.9 ± 10.1% for E3 and E2, respectively). The final lipid contents in the formulations were shown to have an impact on %EE.