Microemulgel Delivery of Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride

Abstract

Background: Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride is broad spectrum carboxyfluoroquinolone antibiotic from biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) class IV. The oral dosage form exhibits gastric irritation whereas the topical cream has demonstrated poor penetration and low bioavailability. Objective: To optimize microemulsion-based gel of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride to increase its solubility and permeability through the cutaneous layer for targeting bacterial skin infections. Methods: To develop microemulsion, oil (soya oil, castor oil, oleic acid, isopropyl myristate and vegetable oil), surfactant (cremophore, span 80, tween 80) and cosurfactant (PEG 600 and PEG 400, propylene glycol) were evaluated. To depict the microemulsion formulation pseudo ternary phase diagram was employed. %Transmittance, zeta potential, dissolution study and size analysis were carried out for evaluation of microemulsion. 32 factorial design was used. Two variables i.e concentration of Sepineo P600 and Carbopol 934 effect on microemulgel was evaluated. Evaluation of gel was carried for physical parameters, antimicrobial, in-vitro and ex-vivo release study. Results: Solubility analysis suggested tween 80, oleic acid and propylene glycol for the formulation of microemulsion. Zeta potential for microemulsion batch F1 was -11.3 mV. This indicated good stability. In-vitro release study showed 91.98% percentage cumulative drug release for batch F1 at 8 hours. Microemulsion-based gel (F1) showed 22.96% inhibition against bacteria which proved its antibacterial activity. Conclusion: The obtained results exhibited that the permeability and bioavailability of the drug was increased when given through a topical route.