Optimization of Olive Oil-Based Nanoemulsion Preparation for Intravenous Drug Delivery

A seven-factor Box-Behnken design was used for the optimized development of an olive oil-based nanoemulsion (NE) intended for intravenous drug delivery. The independent variables of olive oil concentration, tween 80 concentration, span 80 concentration, rate of adding of oil in aqueous phase, homogenization speed, homogenization time, and preparation temperature, were used as inputs of the factorial design. The response variables were mean droplet diameter, zeta potential (ZP), and polydispersity index (PDI). A quadratic, linear and 2FI model was established to predict the responses based on the multivariate model developed. The obtained experimental responses were in good agreement with predicted values from expert design, showing residual standard error (RSE) less than 10 %. TEM revealed that the optimized nanoemulsions were almost spherical with mean diameter about 40 nm. The developed formulation showed only about 4.6% of hemolysis and was safe for intravenous delivery. As well, the other in vitro characterization of the optimal nanoemulsion such as viscosity, percent transmittance, physical stability, and solubility study revealed it to be promising as an intravenous drug delivery system.