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Abstract

The present study focuses on the development and evaluation of a naringenin-loaded transethosomal gel for enhanced topical delivery. Naringenin, a flavonoid with notable therapeutic properties, suffers from limited solubility and bioavailability, which restricts its clinical applications. To overcome these limitations, transethosomal vesicles were prepared using phospholipid, ethanol, cholesterol, and surfactants (Tween 80 and Span 60) via a thin-film hydration method. Among the ten formulations, the T6 batch demonstrated optimal entrapment efficiency (88.65%), minimal particle size (89.71 nm), and a desirable zeta potential (-10.5 mV). The optimized formulation was incorporated into a Carbopol 934-based gel and characterized for pH, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, and drug content. In-vitro drug release studies of TEG6 high drug release profile, with 91.30% of naringenin released over 12 hours, following first-order kinetics. The gel also exhibited excellent physical stability under accelerated conditions over two months. These findings indicate that the transethosomal gel system significantly improves the solubility, stability, and sustained release of naringenin, suggesting its potential for effective topical therapy.