Formulation, Development and Textural Characterization of Nano-Engineering Strategy Assisted Topical Antifungal Nanolipogel (PDF)

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2019 in the subject Medicine - Pharmacology, Pharmacy, grade: 9.5, , language: English, abstract: The aim of the present research work was to formulate, develop and characterize topical antifungal nanolipogel using hundred-times-washed cow ghee base known as shatadhautaghrita. It is used as a permeation enhancer to increase the permeation rate of fluconazole. Nine formulations of nanolipogel were prepared using different concentrations of carbopol and shatadhautaghrita. The optimized batch of nanolipogel (formulation F7) was evaluated for pH, percentage yield, drug content, extrudability, rheology. The consistency, spreadability and formation of nanosize particles were assessed through texture profile analysis and zetasizer.

Fluconazole (FLZ) is an antifungal agent used mainly in topical formulations to treat various skin disorders such as oropharyngeal candidiasis, cryptoccocal meningitis and cutaneous dermatophyte infections. FLZ is a synthetic triazole derivative that acts as an antifungal. FLZ preferentially inhibits fungal cytochrome P-450 sterol C-14 alpha-demethylation.

Shatadhautaghrita(SDG) is used as a natural permeation enhancer in topical products. It is prepared by washing cow ghee 100 times with water.shatadhautaghrita is (shata = one hundred, dhauta = washed) clarified butter fat that has been washed 100 times. The use of shatadhautaghrita in managing conditions such as burns, chicken pox, scars, wounds, herpes, leprosy and other skin diseases and as a vehicle for drugs for external application are mentioned in traditional texts. The characteristic odour and granular, oily consistency of cow ghee are not present in shatadhautaghrita, and so it is a homogeneous, smooth, non-oily product that is easier to apply. The neutral pH of shatadhautaghrita compared with the acidic pH value of ghee makes shatadhautaghrita beneficial by preventing skin irritation. The reduced particle size of shatadhautaghrita makes the product non-granular, non-sticky and homogeneous, which makes it easy to apply it on the skin and may result in an increased rate of absorption through the skin. Washing results in a homogeneous oil-in-water emulsion with better consistency and viscosity, which makes it suitable for use in topical applications.