In Situ Hexosomal Gel as a Promising Tool to Ameliorate the Transnasal Brain Delivery of Vinpocetine: Central Composite Optimization and In Vivo Biodistribution.

Vascular dementia is a condition characterized by a wretched cerebral circulation which can lead to memory loss. Vinpocetine showed ability to promote the cerebral circulation and depict neuroprotective impacts. However, it suffers from poor bioavailability and requires frequent daily dosing which is not suitable for dementia patients. In our study, these limitations were overcome by the prolonged direct delivery of vinpocetine to the brain utilizing an intranasal in situ hexosomal gel. A central composite design was utilized and the optimum dispersion (consisting of 15% w/w of oleic acid and 5% w/w of pluronic F127) was loaded in an in situ gel system using gellan gum with 1% w/v. The optimized Formulae achieved a controlled drug release over 24 h and the pharmacokinetic data revealed that the C and AUC in the rats' brain after the intranasal application of the dispersion and in situ gel were significantly higher relative to the vinpocetine solution applied intravenously at the same dose. The potential of both formulae to deliver vinpocetine to the brain directly through the intranasal route was confirmed by the high BTE% of 370.97% and 480.70% and the high DTP% of 73.04% and 79.19% for the dispersion and in situ gel, respectively.