For transdermal delivery of meloxicam, nanostructured lipid carriers containing compritol as solid lipid, oleic acid as liquid lipid and different ratios of Pluronic F-68 were prepared. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size, polydispersity index, zeta-potential and encapsulation efficiency. The average particle size, zeta-potential and encapsulation efficiency ranged from 134 to 491 nm, from -12.4 to -23.23 mV and from 35 to 70%, respectively. Furthermore, in vitro release for a number of selected formulations was performed using dialysis membrane in phosphate buffer saline. Drug release from free solution compared to release from nanostructured lipid carriers over a period of 48 hours was evaluated as well as release kinetic analysis was investigated. Moreover, stability of the selected formulation was studied at different time intervals. In addition, meloxicam-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers gel containing Carbopol-934 as a gelling agent was prepared. Moreover, anti-inflammatory activity of the prepared gel was evaluated using carrageenan-induced rat paw edema method. Meloxicamloaded nanostructured lipid carriers gel showed a more sustained inhibitory effect compared to free meloxicam gel. Finally, toxicity of the prepared meloxicam-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers gel was evaluated using histopathological examination.