The aim of this study is to prepare an optimized surface active modified polysaccharide gel of oleoyl alginate using response surface methodology as well as to study its potential use in drug skin delivery as a safe alternative to skin penetration enhancers. An optimized oleoyl alginate material was obtained using response surface methodology in terms of three different responses, i.e. degree of substitution, viscosity and surface tension. The resultant optimized oleoyl alginates were further studied concerning particle size, surface roughness and particle aggregation concentration measurements. Franz diffusion cell method was used to monitor skin permeation of ibuprofen lysinate over 6-h period exposure to excised rabbit skin. The optimized oleoyl alginate based on surface tension showed the highest particle size, the lowest surface tension among other preparations and it has also been used as skin penetration enhancer for ibuprofen lysinate. In this study, a polysaccharide derivative was prepared that enhanced skin penetration ability of the model drug i.e. ibuprofen lysinate.
Keywords: Alginate derivative; Franz diffusion cell; animal skin; response surface methodology; surface tension; transdermal.