Improving the in vitro penetration of niacinamide using span 60-based niosomal system in gel formulation

Abstract

Niacinamide is one of the components in cosmeceutical products that have been reported to offer benefits for skin pigmentation, acne, and wrinkles treatment. However, the dermal penetration of niacinamide is poor. The carrier system that can transport the compound through the stratum corneum layer is the niosomal system prepared using Span 60. This study aimed to determine at which concentration Span 60 could entrap niacinamide optimally and the ability of the Span 60-based niosomal system to increase in vitro penetration of niacinamide in gel preparation. The nicotinamide-loaded niosomes were formulated with various concentrations of Span 60, namely (A) 100 μmol, (B) 150 μmol, and (C) 200 μmol. The entrapment efficiency testing was conducted using dialysis membranes. The gel was prepared with two formulas i.e., niacinamide-loaded niosome gel and niacinamide gel (without niosomes) and tested for diffusion using the flow-through Franz diffusion cell. The results showed that Formula A provided the most optimum entrapment efficiency of 99.03±0.026%. Meanwhile, the results of the in vitro skin penetration studies for eight (8) hours indicated that the niosomal formulation prepared with Span 60 could increase dermal penetration. The cumulative percentage of niacinamide-loaded niosomes penetrating the skin was 82.87±1.6932% or higher than that of niacinamide gel without niosomal system, i.e., about 70.27±5.3212%.

Keywords

• niacinamide
• gel
• niosome
• span 60
• in vitro penetration