Razvoj in vrednotenje mukoadhezivnih gelov z nanostrukturiranimi lipidnimi nosilci s kurkuminom in omega-3 maščobnimi kislinami

Užmah, Tina (author), Zupančič, Špela (mentor), Zidar, Anže (comentor)

Parodontitis je kronična vnetna bolezen obzobnih tkiv, pri kateri lokalna dostava učinkovin predstavlja obetaven pristop za izboljšanje zdravljenja. Namen diplomske naloge je bil razviti mukoadhezivne gelne formulacije z vgrajenimi nanostrukturiranimi lipidnimi nosilci (NLC), ki vsebujejo kurkumin in omega-3 maščobne kisline, ter ovrednotiti njihove fizikalno-kemijske, reološke in mehanske lastnosti ter kratkoročno fizikalno stabilnost. Pripravili smo formulacije gelov na osnovi hidroksipropil metilceluloze in karbomera ter na podlagi presejalnega vrednotenja, v sklopu katerega smo izvedli pH meritve, vizualno vrednotenje, meritve viskoznosti in oscilatorno potrjevanje gelne strukture, izbrali najprimernejše formulacije za nadaljnji razvoj kompozitnih gelov. V izbrane gele smo vgradili disperzijo NLC s kurkuminom in omega-3 maščobnimi kislinami, ki smo jo pripravili po metodi homogenizacije z rotor-stator homogenizatorjem in sledeče sonikacije. Vpliv vgradnje na lastnosti pripravljenih formulacij smo ovrednotili glede na viskoznost in mehanske lastnosti. Izvedli smo tudi karakterizacijo disperzije NLC in kratkoročno študijo stabilnosti gelov z NLC, kjer smo spremljali velikost, polidisperzni indeks ter zeta potencial NLC. Rezultati so pokazali, da so vse formulacije izkazovale psevdoplastično obnašanje. Izbrane formulacije so imele ustrezne reološke in mehanske lastnosti za lokalno uporabo, vgradnja NLC pa ni bistveno vplivala na njihovo reološko obnašanje. Med formulacijami z vgrajenimi NLC je najboljše adhezivne lastnosti dosegla formulacija hidroksipropil metilceluloza : karbomer = 50 : 50. NLC so izkazovali visoko učinkovitost vgrajevanja in ustrezne fizikalno-kemijske lastnosti. Kratkoročna študija stabilnosti je pokazala spremembe velikosti delcev, PDI, zeta potenciala in učinkovitosti vgrajevanja med shranjevanjem, pri čemer pri nobenem parametru nismo opazili enotnega trenda sprememb. Na podlagi rezultatov ni bilo mogoče nedvoumno določiti najbolj stabilne formulacije.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: Parodontitis, kurkumin, omega-3 maščobne kisline, nanostrukturirani lipidni nosilci, mukoadhezivni gel
• Work type: Bachelor thesis/paper
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Year: 2026
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-186969
• Publication date in RUL: 08.09.2026

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Development and evaluation of mucoadhesive gels containing nanostructured lipid carriers with curcumin and omega-3 fatty acids

Abstract

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the periodontal tissues, in which local drug delivery represents a promising approach for improving treatment outcomes. The aim of this thesis was to develop mucoadhesive gel formulations containing nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) loaded with curcumin and omega-3 fatty acids and to evaluate their physicochemical, rheological, and mechanical properties, as well as their short-term physical stability. Gel formulations based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and carbomer were prepared. Based on a screening evaluation, including pH measurements, visual assessment, viscosity measurements, and oscillatory testing to confirm gel structure, the most suitable formulations were selected for further development of composite gels. The selected gels were incorporated with an NLC dispersion containing curcumin and omega-3 fatty acids, which was prepared using rotor-stator homogenization followed by sonication. The effect of NLC incorporation on the properties of the prepared formulations was evaluated based on viscosity and mechanical properties. The NLC dispersion was also characterized, and a short-term stability study of the gels with NLC was performed, during which NLC particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential were monitored. The results showed that all formulations exhibited pseudoplastic behavior. The selected formulations demonstrated suitable rheological and mechanical properties for local application, while the incorporation of NLC did not significantly affect their rheological behavior. The NLC exhibited high encapsulation efficiency and suitable physicochemical properties. Among the formulations containing NLC, blend formulation hydroxypropyl methylcellulose : carbomer = 50 : 50 exhibited the best adhesive properties. The short-term stability study showed changes in particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency during storage, with no consistent trend observed for any of the parameters. Based on the results, it was not possible to unambiguously identify the most stable formulation.

• Keywords: Parodontitis, curcumin, omega-3 fatty acids, nanostructured lipid carriers, mucoadhesive gel