DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF TOPICAL MICROEMULSION

Abstract

A microemulsion based gel was designed for the topical and targeted delivery of sertaconazole nitrate for the treatment of su perficial fungal infection. The microemulsion region was obtained using a ternary diagram, different ratio of oil and Smix were used. The microemulsion of sertaconazole containing 2% (w/w) of sertaconazole, 6.67% (w/w) of oil phase (Eugenol+Oleic acid 1:1), 60.18% (w/ w) of surfactant mixture 2:1 ratio (Tween-80 and Transcutol-P) and 33.15% (w/w) with distilled water. The prepared microemulsion gel and commercial cream of sertaconazole were evaluated for in-vitro and ex-vivo studies. The highest drug retention was achieved with Tween 80 and Transcutol P (T80TC45) when the optimized formulation was converted to a gel. The designed formulation MG2 was safe to be used over the skin as the PDI=0 when compared with commercial cream and MG1. The optimized formulation also posse’s anti-inflammatory activity. The average zone of inhibition of MG2 was (23.19 ± 0.478) which was more than the commercial cream (15.34 ± 0.382) or MG1 (17.78 ± 0.715). Candida albicans which may be due to better permeation and retention effect of microemulsion gel 2. The MG2 was found to be stable after six month. The results obtained in this research from in vitro and in vivo data it can be concluded that the developed microemulsions have great potential for topical drug delivery in the treatment of inflammation and fungal infection.