Published August 31, 2025 | Version v1

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MELPHALAN LOADED NIOSOME FOR CANCER TREATMENT

  • 1. *Vice Principal, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.
  • 2. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.
  • 3. Principal, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.
  • 4. Pharmacy Final Year Student, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.
  • 5. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Arunai College of Pharmacy. Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, India.

Description

Cancer treatment with conventional chemotherapy drugs often faces
challenges such as poor solubility, rapid metabolism, systemic toxicity, and
non-specific distribution. Melphalan, an alkylating agent widely used in
multiple myeloma and other cancers, is clinically effective but suffers from
reduced stability and limited bioavailability. To address these drawbacks, the
present work focused on developing melphalan-loaded niosomes as a novel
nanocarrier system. The formulations were prepared using the thin film
hydration technique with cholesterol and non-ionic surfactants. They were
further analyzed for particle size, surface charge, drug entrapment
efficiency, pH stability, compatibility studies, and in vitro release behavior.
The optimized niosomal formulation exhibited nanoscale vesicles with
uniform distribution, high entrapment efficiency, and stable zeta potential.
FTIR analysis confirmed no significant drug–excipient interactions. The
release profile demonstrated sustained drug release over an extended period,
with kinetics indicating a diffusion-controlled mechanism. The findings
suggest that melphalan-loaded niosomes can enhance drug stability, provide
controlled delivery, reduce systemic side effects, and thereby improve
therapeutic efficacy in cancer management.

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Identifiers

ISSN
3049-3013

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Is referenced by
Journal article: 3049-3013 (ISSN)

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