Formulation and Evaluation of Indomethacin-Loaded Bigel for Enhanced Topical Drug Delivery
Abstract
Indomethacin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is associated with gastrointestinal side effects upon oral administration. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate an indomethacin-loaded bigel for improved topical delivery and sustained drug release. Bigels were prepared by combining Carbopol 934-based hydrogel and lecithin–isopropyl palmitate organogel in varying ratios (B1-B5). The formulations were evaluated for physicochemical properties, drug content, in vitro drug release, and stability. All formulations showed acceptable pH (5.8–6.4), good homogeneity, and suitable viscosity (5600-6900 cps). Drug content ranged from 93.10% to 99.00%. In vitro release studies demonstrated sustained drug release over 8 hours, with formulation B3 showing optimal performance (99.90% release). Release kinetics of B3 followed the Higuchi model (R² = 0.9727), indicating diffusion-controlled release. Stability studies confirmed no significant changes in pH, viscosity, or drug content under storage conditions. In conclusion, the optimized bigel formulation (B3) offers effective topical delivery of indomethacin with improved stability and sustained release characteristics, making it a promising alternative to conventional formulations.
Keywords: Indomethacin, Bigel, Topical drug delivery, Biphasic system, Drug release kinetics
Keywords:
Indomethacin, Bigel, Topical drug delivery, Biphasic system, Drug release kineticsDOI
https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v16i5.7742References
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