In the present study it was attempted to develop liposomal dosage form of oxybenzone and formulate it into cream for topical application with an aim to improvise the sunscreen efficacy of oxybenzone. Ethanol injection method was used formulating the liposomes with varying ratio of lecithin and cholesterol. Surface smoothness of the liposomes was enhanced by an increase in the lecithin concentration, as evident from the TEM photomicrographs. The particle size was found to be reduced with the increasing ratio of lecithin to cholesterol. The drug loading, encapsulation efficiency and drug release from the liposomes followed the similar trend and F1 was found to be having the smallest particle size, highest drug loading and encapsulation efficiency as well as the highest drug released over 8 h. The cream formulations made from the liposomes (F1) and pure drug was found to possess all the physicochemical evaluation parameters within acceptable limits. The sunscreen efficacy of the cream formulations was tested using sodium nitroprusside absorbance method at 395 nm, and it revealed that the liposome loaded formulations had better sunscreen efficiency as compared to the plain drug loaded formulations.

Oxybenzone, liposome, cream, sunscreen, ethanol injection

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