Acceptance rate 46%
Time to first decision 20 days*
Time to decision with review 50 days*

*Approximate number of days

**The days mentioned above are averages and do not indicate exact durations. The process may vary for each article.


ACTA Pharmaceutica Sciencia 2017 , Vol 55 , Num 2
Development and In Vitro Characterization of Microemulsions of Isotretinoin
Aslı Gürbüz 1 Sevgi Güngör 1 Meryem Sedef Erdal 1
1 Istanbul University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, 34116
DOI : 10.23893/1307-2080.APS.0559 Microemulsions are nano-sized colloidal drug carriers which offer several advantages such as ease of preparation, thermodynamic stability, high solubilizing capacity for both of lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs and penetration enhancement. The aim of this study was to prepare novel microemulsions of isotretinoin, a highly lipophilic anti-acne drug, for its topical application. The pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed at different oil to surfactant/co-surfactant mixture using isopropyl myristate (oil phase), Labrasol (surfactant), Kolliphor HS15, Kolliphor EL or Plurol Oleique CC497 (co-surfactant) and water. The physicochemical properties and storage stability of microemulsions were investigated. The developed microemulsions were characterized in terms of isotropy, particle size and size distribution, pH, refractive index, rheological behaviour, and conductivity. Spherical shape and droplet size of microemulsions were supported by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Optimized formulations were found to be physically stable over a period of six months. In conclusion, microemulsions could be promising colloidal carriers for topical delivery of isotretinoin. Keywords : microemulsion, colloidal systems, isotretinoin, topical drug delivery

Istanbul Medipol University