An evaluation of tocotrienol ethosomes for transdermal delivery using Strat-M membrane and excised human skin.

Tocotrienol (TRF) ethosomes were developed and evaluated for potential transdermal delivery against melanoma. The optimised TRF ethosomal size ranged between 64.9 ± 2.2 nm to 79.6 ± 3.9 nm and zeta potential (ZP) between -53.3 mV to -62.0 ± 2.6 mV. Characterisation of the ethosomes by ATR-FTIR indicated the successful formation of TRF-ethosomes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images demonstrated the spherical shape of ethosomes, and the entrapment efficiencies of all the formulations were above 66%. permeation studies using full-thickness human skin showed that the permeation of gamma-T3 from the TRF ethosomal formulations was significantly higher ( < 0.05) than from the control. The cumulative amount of gamma-T3 permeated from TRF ethosome after 48 hours was 1.03 ± 0.24 µg cm with a flux of 0.03 ± 0.01 µg cm h. Furthermore, the flux of gamma-T3 across the Strat-M and the epidermal membrane was significantly higher than that across full-thickness human skin ( < 0.05). cytotoxicity studies on HaCat cells showed significantly higher cell viability than the pure drug solution ( < 0.05). The enhanced skin permeation and high cell viability associated with this formulation suggest a promising carrier for transdermal delivery.