Formulation and Evaluation of Luliconazole Microsponges Loaded Gel for Topical Delivery

Abstract

Microsponge containing Luliconazole (LCZ) with different proportion of drug:polymer (Ethyl cellulose and Eudragit RS 100) were obtained efficiently using Quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. Luliconazole is an anti-fungal drug used for the topical delivery. The purpose of the microsponge formulation is to control the release of LCZ drug to the skin through Microsponge Delivery System (MDS) known to be the novel technique which overcome the maximum concentration of active ingredient, frequency doses, and skin irritation. The prepared microsponges were examined using drug content, % production yield, % entrapment efficiency and in-vitro drug release. The formulation were subjected to in-vitro drug release studies for 6 hr in which it was concluded that Ethyl cellulose microsponges formulated by drug:polymer (1:1) and Eudragit RS 100 microsponges formulated by drug:polymer (1:3) showed maximum controlled release i.e., Increase in drug:polymer ratio (1:1 to 1:9) increased the production yield and entrapment efficiency of microsponges using Ethyl cellulose with no significant effect for Eudragit RS 100.Therefore, both formulation F1 and F2 was dispersed in carbopol gel preparation for controlled delivery of LCZ to the skin. Various physical parameters like pH, spreadability, viscosity and in-vitro drug diffusion studies were evaluated for the prepared gel formulations. Microsponge gel formulation i.e., FG1 showed better results for controlled release of 89.40% as compared to FG2 i.e., 92.18% over the period of 12 hrs which is performed in Franz Diffusion Cell. On basis of in-vitro diffusion studies for LCZ gel formulation, microsponges using Ethyl cellulose (FG1) was found to be best for its controlled release of LCZ for 12 hrs and followed zero order kinetics. Hence, formulated LCZ loaded gel have potential to treat fungal infections i.e., tinea pedis, tinea cruris and tinea corporis.