EFFECT OF SURFACTANT STRUCTURE ON THE RELEASE OF DEXAMETHAZONE FROM DIFFERENT OINTMENT BASES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

Abstract

The effect of variations in the surfactant molecular Structure and concentration on the release of dexamethazone from different ointment bases, was investigated. It was found that the release of dexamethazone from oil in water emulsion bases increased in the presence of the different hydrophilic non-ionic surfactants used: This may be due to their solubilizing effect on such slightly water soluble solute. The increase in surfactant concentration enhanced the rate of drug released from each base by a special rate, specific for each base. The incorporation of hydrophobic surfactants in the water in oi1, emulsion bases leads also to increase in the amount of drug released. This may be due to the dispersing effect of these surfactants on such a drug.