The College of Pharmacy discussed the PhD dissertation entitled “Docetaxel Lipo-Nanosphere as Transdermal Delivery System Preparation and In Vitro/In Vivo Study” by the student Maysam Mohammed Abbas and the supervisor, Professor Dr. Shaima Nazar Abd Al Hammed, at the Pharmaceutics Department.The study aimed to develop and characterize Lipo-Nanospheres (LPNS) encapsulating Docetaxel (DCX). Following optimization, the most effective formulation was selected for the development of transdermal films, intended for use as a palliative second-line chemotherapy for various types of cancer.The study included the preparation of 27 formulations utilizing tricaprine, stearic acid (a fatty acid), paraffin wax, and tristearin (a triglyceride) to develop four distinct Lipo-Nanosphere (LPNS) solid lipid types, aimed at forming a stable lipid core and achieving efficient Docetaxel (DCX) encapsulation within the LPNS vesicles. To ensure proper lipid phase structuring, solid lipids were combined with liquid lipids in a 1:1 ratio, incorporating hydrogenated soybean oil and olive oil, or alternatively, another solid lipid such as cetyl alcohol (a fatty alcohol) in the same 1:1 ratio. The LPNS coat components, 80H and 90G, were incorporated at a 1:0.2 ratio relative to the lipid core, along with Tween 80 as a surfactant, ethanol as a solvent, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a co-surfactant (stabilizer). The formulation process was maintained at a constant stirring rate of 1000 rpm to ensure uniformity and stability. The study concluded with an ex vivo evaluation of formulations F5, F11, and F16, determining that the formulation with the highest skin permeability would be incorporated into the transdermal film matrix. Among the tested formulations, F11 exhibited the most favorable permeability profile, achieving an optimal permeability coefficient of 0.14 × 10⁻² cm/hr, with a cumulative skin release of 92.4 ± 1.71% over 24 hours. The study recommended conducting additional long-term stability studies to ensure formulation robustness, performing further pharmacological investigations to validate the therapeutic efficacy of the DCX-LPNS transdermal film as an anticancer agent, and carrying out toxicity assessments to confirm the safety of DCX-LPNS in healthy skin cells.
