LAUSR

Abstract Dementia is a degenerative brain disease, which is associated with severe cognitive impairments, where angiotensin receptor blockers (e.g., telmisartan) shown to attenuate demented conditions. The objective of this study is to formulate and characterize telmisartan mucoadhesive nanoemulgel (TMNEG) for intranasal delivery. TMNEG was developed using Sefsol 218 and oleic acid (oilmix), Tween 20 (surfactant) and Transcutol P (co-surfactant), followed by incorporation of different concentrations of chitosan solution. The droplet-size, size-distribution, zeta potential, pH and viscositywere evaluated for the TMNEG formulations. Later, mucoadhesive property, in vitro release pattern along with the mechanism of release and ex vivo permeation through goat nasal mucosa of the TMNEGs were evaluated. Photon correlation spectroscopy and thermodynamic stability studies had shown that optimized TMNEG formulation had a nanometric droplet size and acceptable pH. Drug release studies revealed that overall release in optimized TMNEG (57.45 ± 5.90%) is lower than optimized telmisartan nanoemulsion (71.71 ± 5.32%) within the time frame of 12 h, showing a delayed-release contributed by the chitosan coating. The higher release rate was found in both low and medium molecular weight chitosan-coated nanoemulgel at a concentration of 0.5% and 1.0% as compared to TMNEGs with high molecular weight chitosan. The in vitro release kinetic profile followed first-order reaction and Higuchi model with non-Fickian diffusion. Coating of nanoemulsion droplets with chitosan had shown to improve the mucoadhesive property, which further improved the permeation through goat nasal mucosa. Taking into consideration of mucoadhesive characteristics, extended drug release and improved ex vivo permeation, the developed TMNEG provides a potential platform for the delivery of telmisartan via intranasal route.