FORMULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRONIOSOMAL GEL FOR TOPICAL DELIVERY OF AMPHOTERICIN B

Objective: The present research work of Amphotericin B Proniosomal gel focuses on improving patient compliance by reducing the side effects of conventional intravenous injections and minimizing the problem of physical stability and to localize drug at site of action. Methods: Proniosomal gels are prepared by coacervation phase separation technique using different concentration of non-ionic surfactants (Span and Tween) for uniform vesicle formation, lecithin as permeation enhancer/membrane stabilizer and cholesterol as a vesicle cement providing prolonged release. Prepared gels were evaluated for their viscosity, pH, spreadability, entrapment efficiency, drug content uniformity, extrudability, in vitro drug release, permeability and stability studies. Results: Among the nine formulations, F2 (containing 10 mg drug, 250 mg Span 60, 50 mg Soya lecithin) was found to be promising. Fourier Transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectra studies represented no interaction and physicochemical characteristics were found within the limits. The percentages of drug content and entrapment efficiency were determined to be 95.16%±0.40 and 94.20%±0.20, respectively. In vitro drug release was about 95.72%±0.30. Conclusion: Proniosomal gel could constitute a promising approach for topical delivery of Amphotericin B by encapsulating it in non-ionic surfactant to provide patient compliance with cutaneous fungal infection, which was found to be safe, tolerable and efficacious.

Formulation Development, Characterization and Antifungal Evaluation of Chitosan NPs for Topical Delivery of Voriconazole In Vitro and Ex Vivo

This study aims to develop chitosan-based voriconazole nanoparticles (NPs) using spray-drying technique. The effect of surfactants and polymers on the physicochemical properties, in vitro release, and permeation of NPs was investigated. The prepared NPs containing various surfactants and polymers (e.g., Tween 20 (T20), Tween 80 (T80), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), propylene glycol (PG), and Polyethylene glycol-4000 (PEG-4000)) were physiochemically evaluated for size, zeta potential, drug content, percent entrapment efficiency, in vitro release, and permeation across rats’ skin. A Franz diffusion cell was used for evaluating the in vitro release and permeation profile. The voriconazole-loaded NPs were investigated for antifungal activity against Candida albicans (C. albicans). The prepared NPs were in the nano range (i.e., 160–500 nm) and positively charged. Images taken by a scanning electron microscope showed that all prepared NPs were spherical and smooth. The drug content of NPs ranged from 75% to 90%. Nanoparticle formulations exhibited a good in vitro release profile and transport voriconazole across the rat’s skin in a slow control release manner. The NPs containing SLS, T80, and PG exhibited the best penetration and skin retention profile. In addition, the formulation exhibited a potential antifungal effect against C. albicans. It was concluded that the development of chitosan NPs has a great potential for the topical delivery of voriconazole against fungal infection.

New, Biocompatible, Chitosan-Gelled Microemulsions Based on Essential Oils and Sucrose Esters as Nanocarriers for Topical Delivery of Fluconazole

Biocompatible gel microemulsions containing natural origin excipients are promising nanocarrier systems for the safe and effective topical application of hydrophobic drugs, including antifungals. Recently, to improve fluconazole skin permeation, tolerability and therapeutic efficacy, we developed topical biocompatible microemulsions based on cinnamon, oregano or clove essential oil (CIN, ORG or CLV) as the oil phase and sucrose laurate (D1216) or sucrose palmitate (D1616) as surfactants, excipients also possessing intrinsic antifungal activity. To follow up this research, this study aimed to improve the adhesiveness of respective fluconazole microemulsions using chitosan (a biopolymer with intrinsic antifungal activity) as gellator and to evaluate the formulation variables’ effect (composition and concentration of essential oil, sucrose ester structure) on the gel microemulsions’ (MEGELs) properties. All MEGELs were evaluated for drug content, pH, rheological behavior, viscosity, spreadability, in vitro drug release and skin permeation and antifungal activity. The results showed that formulation variables determined distinctive changes in the MEGELs’ properties, which were nevertheless in accordance with official requirements for semisolid preparations. The highest flux and release rate values and large diameters of the fungal growth inhibition zone were produced by formulations MEGEL-FZ-D1616-CIN 10%, MEGEL-FZ-D1216-CIN 10% and MEGEL-FZ-D1616-ORG 10%. In conclusion, these MEGELs were demonstrated to be effective platforms for fluconazole topical delivery.