Ethosomal Nanoformulation, Characterization, Tyrosinase Inhibition, and Skin-PAMPA Permeability Testing

Laboratory needed to develop and evaluate an ethosomal nanoformulation containing a sponsor-provided standardized botanical alkaloid powder (~5% active alkaloid content).

Required services include:

1. Ethosomal Nanoformulation: Prepare a small-scale (1.5–5.0 mL) ethosomal suspension using the sponsor-provided powder, soy phosphatidylcholine, ethanol, and aqueous buffer via sonication and/or homogenization.
2. Physical Characterization: Determine hydrodynamic particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) by dynamic light scattering (DLS), and measure zeta potential.
3. Entrapment Efficiency: Separate free and encapsulated material using centrifugal and/or ultrafiltration methods and quantify the active payload to determine entrapment efficiency.
4. Tyrosinase Inhibition Assay: Conduct a 96-well mushroom tyrosinase inhibition assay and determine IC50, using kojic acid as a positive control.
5. Skin-PAMPA Permeability Screening: Compare passive permeation/flux of the ethosomal formulation with a free, unencapsulated extract control across a synthetic skin-mimetic membrane in a 96-well format.
6. Analytical Profiling: Quantify primary active alkaloids in the raw sample and formulated preparation using HPLC-UV or LC-MS.

All preliminary discussions and testing must be performed under a Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). The sponsor requires ownership of all generated data, experimental parameters, analytical outputs, and project-generated intellectual property under a fee-for-service work-for-hire agreement.