QbD Systematic Approach to Development Quercetin Nanoemulsion: Stability Studies, Encapsulation Efficiency and in Vitro Skin Permeation Analysis
摘要
This study proposes a foundational formulation of a nanoemulsion capable of encapsulating different concentrations of quercetin. The formulation was developed using a quality-by-design approach, and the excipient concentrations were determined using a factorial design. The formulations were prepared in triplicates by mechanical stirring at the following concentrations: A = 2.5 mg/mL, B = 5 mg/mL, and C = 7 mg/mL. These formulations were stored at 6 °C and room temperature and evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential over three months. After three months, an accelerated stability test was conducted using an analytical centrifuge. The encapsulation efficiency, determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, was 90.1%, 91.7%, and 88.9% for formulations A, B, and C, respectively. Furthermore, release profile and in vitro skin permeation analyses were performed along with confocal microscopy analysis to qualitatively assess the depth of quercetin permeation for the three formulations. This proposed nanoformulation, capable of encapsulating up to three times more quercetin, significantly expands the topical treatment options for a wide range of skin diseases.