Development and Characterization of Caffeine-Loaded Niosome Hydrogel for Topical Delivery
Abstract
The aim of present work is to development and characterization of caffeine-loaded niosomal hydrogel for topical delivery. The stratum corneum significantly limits the effectiveness of conventional topical drug delivery systems. Vesicular carriers such as niosomes have emerged as a promising strategy to enhance dermal penetration and provide sustained drug release. The present study focused on development and characterization of a caffeine-loaded niosomal hydrogel intended for its antioxidant, lipolytic, and skin stimulating properties. Niosomes were prepared using a ether injection technique with different ratios of Tween 80 and cholesterol and were subsequently incorporated into a Carbopol 934 hydrogel base. Comprehensive characterization was performed, including particle size analysis, zeta potential measurement, FTIR compatibility studies, rheological assessment, spreadability, homogeneity, drug content, entrapment efficiency, and in-vitro drug release. Among the prepared formulations, batch CG4 demonstrated the highest entrapment efficiency (86.925 ± 0.165%) and was selected as the optimized system. The optimized niosomes exhibited a mean particle size of 448.1 nm and a zeta potential of -4.877 mV, indicating satisfactory vesicle stability. The corresponding niosomal hydrogel (NG1) showed desirable physicochemical properties, including pH 6.2 ± 0.58, viscosity 14235 ± 7.12 cps, excellent spreadability (17.963 ± 0.842 g·cm/sec), uniform consistency, and absence of grittiness, drug content (92.32 ±0.42). In-vitro release studies revealed a sustained release pattern of caffeine (81.9% over 12 hours), predominantly following first-order and Higuchi release kinetics. Overall, the development and characterization of caffeine-loaded niosomal hydrogel demonstrates strong potential as an effective topical delivery system for enhanced and sustained topical drug delivery.
Keywords : Caffeine, Niosomes, Hydrogel, Viscosity, pH, Spreadability etc
Keywords:
Caffiene, Niosomes, Hydrogel , Viscosity, pH, spradabilityDOI
https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v16i4.7658References
1. Kazi KM, Mandal AS, Biswas N, Guha A, Chatterjee S, Behera M, Kuotsu K. Niosome: a future of targeted drug delivery systems. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research. 2010 Oct 1;1(4):374-80. https://doi.org/10.4103/0110-5558.76435 PMid:22247876 PMCid:PMC3255404
2. Herman A, Herman A P. Caffeine's Mechanisms of action and its cosmetic use. Skin Pharmacol Physiol, 26:8-14, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1159/000343174 PMid:23075568
3. Negi P, Aggarwal M, Sharma G, Rathore C, Sharma G, Singh B, Katare OP. Niosome-based hydrogel of resveratrol for topical applications: An effective therapy for pain related disorder (s). Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2017 Apr 1;88:480-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.01.083 PMid:28126673
4. AMREEN A, KV R. Formulation and evaluation of tramadol hydrochloride-loaded niosomal gel by ether injection method. Asian J. Pharm. Clin. Res. 2023;16:170-3. https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2023.v16i5.47133
5. Barakat HS, Darwish IA, El-Khordagui LK, et al. Development of naftifine hydrochloride alcohol-free niosome gel. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2009; 35:631-637. https://doi.org/10.1080/03639040802498864 PMid:18989805
6. Chaudhari SP, Gaikwad SU. DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF CAFFEINE AND QUERCETIN IN NIOSOME FORMULATION.
7. Nowroozi F, Almasi A, Javidi J, Haeri A, Dadashzadeh S. Effect of surfactant type, cholesterol content and various downsizing methods on the particle size of niosomes. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical Research: IJPR. 2018;17(Suppl2):1
8. Sezgin-Bayindir Z, Yuksel N. Investigation of formulation variables and excipient interaction on the production of niosomes. Aaps Pharmscitech. 2012 Sep;13(3):826-35. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-012-9805-4 PMid:22644706 PMCid:PMC3429677
9. Shirsand SB, Para MS, Nagendrakumar D, Kanani KM, Keerthy D. Formulation and evaluation of Ketoconazole niosomal gel drug delivery system. International journal of pharmaceutical investigation. 2012 Oct;2(4):201. https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-973X.107002 PMid:23580936 PMCid:PMC3618636
10. Mohite M, Kumbhar T. Preparation and evaluation of ketoconazole niosomal gel drug delivery system by ultrasonication method. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2019 Mar 15;8:1303-18.
11. Waqas MK, Sadia H, Khan MI, Omer MO, Siddique MI, Qamar S, Zaman M, Butt MH, Mustafa MW, Rasool N. Development and characterization of niosomal gel of fusidic acid: In-vitro and ex-vivo approaches. Designed monomers and polymers. 2022 Dec 31;25(1):165-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/15685551.2022.2086411 PMid:35711622 PMCid:PMC9196814
12. Srinivas S, Kumar YA, Hemanth A, Anitha M. Preparation and evaluation of niosomes containing aceclofenac. Dig J Nanomater Bios. 2010 Mar 1;5(1):249-54.
13. Chen Y, Chaves Figueiredo S, Yalçinkaya Ç, Çopuroğlu O, Veer F, Schlangen E. The effect of viscosity-modifying admixture on the extrudability of limestone and calcined clay-based cementitious material for extrusion-based 3D concrete printing. Materials. 2019 Apr 28;12(9):1374. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12091374 PMid:31035317 PMCid:PMC6540299
14. Choudhary V, Rani D, Ghosh N, Kaushik M. Development and evaluation of hydrocortisoneloaded niosomal gel. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 2023;14(3):1265-72.
15. Alalor CA, Jokor PE. Evaluation of diclofenac niosomal gel formulated with Grewia gum for topical delivery. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources. 2020 May 22;17(1):13-8. https://doi.org/10.4314/jpb.v17i1.3
16. Shilakari Asthana G, Asthana A, Singh D, Sharma PK. Etodolac containing topical niosomal gel: formulation development and evaluation. Journal of drug delivery. 2016;2016(1):9324567. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9324567 PMid:27478643 PMCid:PMC4958486
17. Rasool BK, Azeez OS, Lootah HA, Abusharbain IM, Abu-Alhaj HA, Nessa F. Extended release niosomal hydrogel for ocular targeting of piroxicam: in vitro and ex vivo evaluation. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2014 Nov 1;4(21):2494. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJPR/2014/13723
Published
Abstract Display: 36 
PDF Downloads: 24 PDF Downloads: 1 How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 Sneha Jakaraddi, Chandrashekar C. Patil, Arjun L Uppar, Shashank Namannavar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
How to Cite
.