Formulation Optimization, In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Niosomal Nanocarriers for Enhanced Topical Delivery of Cetirizine

This study explores the use of niosomal nanocarriers for the topical delivery of cetirizine hydrochloride (CTZ) in the treatment of alopecia. Niosomes, created using the thin film hydration technique, were optimized and incorporated into a hydrogel base. The optimized formulation demonstrated an average size of 403.4 nm, a zeta potential of -12.9 mV, and an entrapment efficiency of 52.8%. Compared to a plain drug solution, the niosomal formulation significantly prolonged drug release up to 12 hours and showed superior skin deposition and retention in both ex-vivo and in-vivo studies. The CTZ-loaded niosomal gel achieved a higher drug deposition percentage (19.2%) and skin retention (AUC 1124.5 μg/mL.h) compared to the plain CTZ gel. These findings suggest that niosomes could be an effective carrier for delivering cetirizine topically for alopecia management.