Volume : 13, Issue : 09, September – 2026
Title:
DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GANCICLOVIR-LOADED ETHOSOMAL GEL WITH IN VITRO EVALUATION
Authors :
Dr. Y. Ganesh Kumar, P. Sreeya Laxmi, P. Lavanya, P. Sai Nandhini, P. Sumanth, P. Pranika
Abstract :
The present study was aimed at formulating and evaluating Ganciclovir-loaded ethosomes to enhance drug delivery and improve therapeutic performance through a vesicular carrier system.Ganciclovir-loaded ethosomes were prepared using phosphatidylcholine and ethanol by the cold method. Eight formulations (F1–F8) were developed with varying concentrations of phosphatidylcholine and ethanol and evaluated for physicochemical characteristics, drug-excipient compatibility, vesicle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release and stability. Preformulations studies including organoleptic evaluation, melting point determination, solubility studies, UV spectroscopic analysis and FTIR studies were carried out. The λmax of Ganciclovir was found to be 252 nm, and the calibration curve showed good linearity in the concentration range of 10–50 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.997. FTIR studies confirmed the compatibility of Ganciclovir with the selected excipients.The particle size of the ethosomal formulations ranged from 163 to 238 nm, while zeta potential values ranged from –21 to –32 mV, indicating good stability of the vesicles. SEM analysis confirmed the spherical morphology and uniform distribution of ethosomes. Drug entrapment efficiency ranged from 70.80% to 85.50%, with formulation F4 exhibiting the highest entrapment efficiency. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated sustained drug release over 8 hours, with formulation F4 showing a cumulative drug release of 97.48%. Stability studies conducted under accelerated conditions for three months indicated no significant changes in the formulation characteristics, confirming good stability.Based on particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, drug release profile and stability studies, formulation F4 was identified as the optimized formulation. The study concluded that ethosomal delivery of Ganciclovir is a promising approach for improving drug delivery, enhancing stability and achieving sustained release.
Keywords: Ganciclovir, Ethosomes, FTIR Studies, In vitro drug release studies, Stability studies
Cite This Article:
Please cite this article in press Y Ganesh Kumar et al., Development And Characterization Of Ganciclovir-Loaded Ethosomal Gel With In Vitro Evaluation.,. Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2026; 13(10).
REFERENCES:
1. Gangwar S., Singh S., Garg G., Ethosomes: A Novel tool for Drug Delivery through the Skin, Journal of Pharmacy Research 2010;3,4:688-691.
2. Kumar KP., Radhika PR., Sivakumar T., Ethosomes: A Priority in Transdermal Drug Delivery, International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences 2010;1:111-121.
3. Heeremans JLM., Gerristen HR., Meusen SP., Mijnheer FW., Gangaram RS., Panday G., Prevost R., Kluft C., Crommelin DJA., The preparation of tissue type plasminogen activator (t- PA) containing liposomes: entrapment efficacy and ultracentrifugation damage, Journal of Drug Targeting 1995;3:301.
4. Asbill CS., El-Kattan AF., Michniak B., Enhancement of transdermal drug delivery: chemical and physical approaches, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems 2000;17:621.
5. Touitou E., Dayan N., Levi-Schaffer F., Piliponsky A., Novel lipid vesicular system for enhanced deliveryJournal of Lipid Research1998;8:113.
6. Verma P., Pathak K., Therapeutic and cosmeceutical potential of ethosomes: An overview, Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research 2010;1:274-82.
7. Jain S., Umamaheshwari RB., Bhadra D., Jain NK., Ethosomes: A novel vesicular carrier for enhanced transdermal delivery of an anti-HIV agent, Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2004;66:72-81.
8. Touitou E., Godin B., Dayan N., Weiss C., Piliponsky A., Levi-Schaffer F., Intracellular delivery mediated by an ethosomal carrier, Biomaterials 2001;22:3053-3059.
9. Manosroi A., Jantrawut P., Khositsuntiwong N., Manosroi W., Manosroi J., Novel Elastic Nano vesicles for Cosmeceutical and Pharmaceutical Applications, Chiang Mai Journal of Science 2009;36,2:168-178.
10. Rakesh R., Anoop KR., Ethosome for Transdermal and Topical Drug Delivery, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 2012;4,3:17-24.
11. Gangwar S., Singh S., Garg G., Ethosomes: A Novel Tool for Drug Delivery Through the Skin, Journal of Pharmacy Research 2010;3,4:688-691.
12. Jain H., Patel J., Joshi K., Patel P., Upadhyay UM., Ethosomes: A Novel Drug Carrier, International Journal of Clinical Practice 2011;7:1:1-4.
13. Upadhyay N., Mandal S., Bhatia L., Shailesh S., Chauhan P., A Review on Ethosomes: An Emerging Approach for Drug Delivery through the Skin, Recent Research in Science and Technology 2011;3,7:19-24. Divya * et al./ Int. J. Pharm. Med. Res. 2016; 4(4):354-363 362.
14. Sivakranth M., AnjumaAra P., Krishnaveni C., Venkatesh E., Ethosomes: A Novel Vesicular Drug Delivery System, International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Research 2012;2,1:16-27.
15. Kumar R., Aslam MD., Tripathi A., Prasad D., Chaudhary V., Jain V., Mishra SK., Singh R., Ethosomes: Novel Vesicular Carriers in Transdermal Drug Delivery, Journal of Global Pharma Technology 2010;2,6:1-7.
16. Rathore AR., Khambete H., Jain S., Preparation and Characterization of Repaglinide Loaded Ethosomal Gel for the Treatment of NIDDM, International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Archives 2013;4,2:385- 390.
17. Shahwal V., Samnani A., Dubey B., Bhowmick M., Ethosomes: An Overview, International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research 2011;2: 161-168.




