Biopharmaceutical Characterization of Carbopol Gel for the Dermal Application of Melatonin

This study investigates the biopharmaceutical properties of a carbopol gel formulation containing melatonin for dermal application. The gel, composed of carbopol (0.1%) and polyethylene glycol (5%) with melatonin (0.1%), demonstrated prolonged drug release compared to a control solution. The release was slightly faster at pH 7.4 than at pH 5.5, though not statistically significant. The release profile aligned best with the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, following Fickian diffusion. The formulation showed 82.5% viability in an MTT test, confirming its biocompatibility. These findings suggest the potential of this gel as a dermal delivery system for melatonin.