“ETHYL CELLULOSE BASED MICROSPONGE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR ANTI-FUNGAL VAGINAL GELS OF TIOCONAZOLE”

Abstract

Valvovaginal Candidiasis is a fungal infection of the vagina and causes are itching, burning, soreness, dysparunia and phenohypical signs such as vaginal and vulvar erythema and edema caused by various species of the genus Candida. Tioconazole is an antifungal medication of the Imidazole class used to treat infections caused by a fungus or yeast. Negative aspects associated with oral systemic antifungal therapy for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis include its limited success rate, toxicity, contraindications, drug interactions, high cost of medication and increased microbial resistance. Orally administered tioconazole is extensively metabolized, major metabolites are glucuronide conjugates. Topical therapy does not lead to systemic side effects or drug interactions.

 

The aim of the study was to produce Ethyl Cellulose microsponge loaded with Tioconazole gel which was able to control the release of Tioconazole to the vaginal tissue. Drug content, Encapsulation efficiency and Percentage yield as such 73.97±0.01, 92.15±0.02 and 81.57±2.87 were determined in the prepared microsponges. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of microsponges showed that they were spherical in shape and contained pores. Tioconazole microsponges were then incorporated into gel for release studies. It was found that the 12 hrs in-vitro drug release study of microsponge was best studied by Korsmeyer Peppas model.