Development of Lyophilized Ebastine-Loaded Novasome Tablets: Comprehensive Physicochemical Characterization and In Vitro/In Vivo Release Evaluation.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Ebastine, a second-generation H1 antihistamine, exhibits poor aqueous solubility and consequently low oral bioavailability, limiting its clinical therapeutic efficacy. Novasome is an advanced vesicular nanocarrier system that offers a promising approach to enhance the solubility and dissolution behavior of a poorly water solubility drug. Therefore, this study aimed to develop, optimize, and characterize ebastine-loaded novasomes and to compress them into tablets to enhance drug solubility, dissolution, and oral bioavailability. METHODS: Ebastine-loaded novasomes were prepared and optimized, then converted into lyophilized tablets using a suitable cryoprotectant. The optimized formulation was characterized for Particle Size (PS), Polydispersity Index (PDI), Zeta Potential (ZP), and Entrapment Efficiency (EE). Solidstate properties were assessed via Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), while drug-excipient compatibility was evaluated using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). In-vitro release studies were performed under stimulated physiological conditions, and in-vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation was conducted in Wistar rats. RESULTS: The selected ebastine-loaded novasome exhibited a mean particle size of 189.9nm, a polydispersity index of 0.31, and an entrapment efficiency of 86.19%. In-vitro release exceeded 90% over 12 hours, significantly surpassing the dissolution profile of pure ebastine. DSC and XRD analyses confirmed amorphization of the drug within the Novasomal matrix, while FTIR revealed no evidence of drug-excipient compatibility. In-vivo studies demonstrated a 493.88% increase in relative oral bioavailability compared to free drug suspension (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: The enhanced dissolution and bioavailability are attributable to drug amorphization, high surface area to volume ratio of the nanovesicles, and protective entrapment of ebastine within the bilayer structure, which together improved gastrointestinal solubilization and oral bioavailability. CONCLUSION: The lyophilized Ebastine-loaded novasome tablet constitutes a stable, effective, and pharmacokinetically superior oral dosage form, offering significant potential for enhance the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.