Application of the Simplex Lattice Design Method to Determine the Optimal Formula of Diclofenac Sodium Nanoemulsion

Diclofenac sodium nanoemulsion design of experimental simplex lattice design optimizing formula

Authors

August 6, 2024

Background: The success of making nanoemulsions with the aim of producing good characteristic values is determined by the ratio of each component. The Design of Experimental (DoE) approach using the Simplex Lattice Design (SLD) method can be used to determine the optimal formula for nanoemulsion, with variable factors consisting of oleic acid, Tween 20:ethanol (4:1), and water. The response variables observed included droplet size, PDI, and pH. Objective: DoE can help reduce energy, costs, and time needed to make the optimal formula of diclofenac sodium nanoemulsion. Methods: Nanoemulsions were prepared using a low-energy emulsification method. Their characteristics were evaluated and analyzed with Design Expert software. Result: The optimal nanoemulsion formulation consists of 4.17% oleic acid, 37.5% emulsifier (Tween 20 : ethanol 4:1), and 58.33% water. The results of nanoemulsion characteristics were good, with 20.37 nm droplet size, 0.42 PDI, and 4.75 pH. The observed values were not significantly different from the predicted values, and the formula could trap 1% diclofenac sodium well. Conclusion: The simplex lattice design method is very useful in pharmaceutical development, such as nanoemulsion optimization.