Niosomes modified with cationic surfactants to increase the bioavailability and stability of indomethacin

Niosomes based on the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 and cholesterol and modified with cationic surfactants (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or its carbamate-bearing analog) were formed by the thin film hydration method. Such a modification of niosomes provides an increase in their ζ potential up to 60 mV, whereas the hydrodynamic diameter of the particles is 100 nm and remains nearly unchanged when the content of the cationic surfactant is varied from 1 to 3 wt.%. The inclusion of anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin in niosomes makes it possible to exceed its limiting solubility in water by nearly 20 times. The dialysis method demonstrated an increase in the release time of the encapsulated drug by 1.5 times, which is a prerequisite for its prolonged action in biosystems. The study of the kinetics of indomethacin cleavage in alkaline media revealed that the niosomes enhanced the stability of the drug providing protection against hydrolytic destruction processes.