Formulation and invitro evaluation of niosome encapsulated daunorubicin hydrochloride

The present study is aimed at the overall improvement in the efficacy and ease of formulation of niosomes carrying anti-neoplastic agent, daunorubicin hydrochloride, to be used in the treatment of acute myelocytic leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia. Niosomes were formulated by using a modified reverse phase evaporation technique, employing a homogenizer inlieu of a sonicator, which was then characterized in terms of vesicle diameter using a scanning electron microscope, and particle size determination using laser diffraction method. The entrapment efficiency of the vesicles was estimated by the lysis of vesicle membrane, and was found to be around 42%, with an entrapment volume of 95.51%. The release of the drug from the vesicle in vitro was highly prolonged when compared to the free drug, and the time required for the 90% release was around 22½ hrs more when compared to the free drug, which makes niosomes prepared by this technique, a promising carrier for the drug daunorubicin HCI.