Application of Box–Behnken Design and Desirability Function in the Development and Optimization of Stealth Liposomes of Microtubule Inhibitor

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the present study was to develop and optimize a Stealth Liposomal Drug Delivery System of microtubule inhibitor using Box–Behnken Design and Desirability function. Study Design: Development and Optimization of Stealth Liposomes. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Pharmacy, Annamalai University, between September 2020 and May 2021. Methodology: Stealth Liposomes were prepared by the thin-film hydration method (TFH). The formulation was optimized using Box – Behnken design to study the effect of independent variables, Amount of Egg Phosphatidylcholine (X1), Amount of Cholesterol (X2), and Amount of DSPE-PEG 2000(X3) on dependent variables Entrapment Efficiency (Y1) and In-vitro drug release (Y2). Results: Entrapment efficiency of the Stealth Liposomes ranges from 56.35 to 84.25%and in-vitro release ranges from 62.38 to 94.26%. The optimized formulation was found using the desirability function to get maximum entrapment with maximum drug release. The optimized formulation showed entrapment efficiency of 80.46% and in-vitro release of 90.11%. Conclusion: Stealth Liposomal Drug Delivery System for microtubule inhibitor was successfully developed and optimized using desirability function in Design Expert software by a three-factor, three level Box – Behnken design.