In vitro Permeation Study of Risperidone through the rat Skin from Ethosomal Carriers versus Liposomal Carriers and Hydro Alcoholic Solutions

Objectives: This study determines any improvements in the skin delivery of ethosomes containing Risperidone (an anti-psychotic agent) relative to the conventional liposomes and hydro alcoholic solutions for transdermal drug. The aim of this study was to compare a novel vesicular carrier; an ethosome containing Risperidone (an anti-psychotic agent) with classic liposomes and hydro alcoholic solutions for transdermal drug delivery. Materials Methods: Risperidone loaded liposomes were prepared according to the thin-film hydration method. Ethosomes were prepared from Lipoid S 75 (to a final PC concentration of 2, 3% (w/v), 30, 40% (v/v) alcohol) and the drug (for final concentration of 0.5% (w/v)) and optimized. Vesicular shape and surface morphology, vesicular size, entrapment efficiency, stability and in vitro rat skin permeation through rat skin in a non-occlusive condition were evaluated. Results and Conclusion: Results indicated that the formulation which contains 3% phospholipid content and 40% ethanol demonstrated the greatest entrapment efficiency (70 ± 6 %) and the nanometric size range (210 ± 11 nm) was selected for further study of transdermal permeation. The stability profile of the prepared system was assessed for 120 days; it revealed very low aggregation and growth in vesicular size. Risperidone loaded ethosomal carriers also provided an enhanced transdermal flux of 75.16 ± 0.60 μg/cm2/h. These results suggested that ethosomes are an effective carrier for dermal and transdermal delivery of Risperidone.