INVESTIGATION ON FORMULATION VARIABLES FOR PREPARATION OF FLUCONAZOLE-LOADED SPANETHOSOMES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2026v18i1.56187Keywords:
Ethanol injection, Formulation optimization, Fluconazole, Spanethosomes, Topical deliveryAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to develop fluconazole (FLC)-loaded spanethosomes by investigating the effects of various formulation variables, with the goal of identifying the optimal formulation that exhibits desirable vesicular characteristics for topical delivery.
Methods: Fifteen formulations containing0.5% w/v FLCspanethosomes were prepared using the ethanol injection method. The formulations were assessed for vesicle size, polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release. The optimal formulation was further characterized for its morphological features and FTIR spectra.
Results: All prepared spanethosomes exhibited nanoscale vesicle sizesranging between 79±8.54 and 3517 ± 80.85 nm, with entrapment efficiency between42.35 ± 4.55 and 95.46 ± 0.68%. The optimum formula, composedofSpan 60 and sodium deoxycholate (SDC) in a 200:15 mgweightratio, exhibited a spherical morphology without aggregation.It achieved a cumulative FLC release of94.6% within6 hours.
Conclusion: These results suggest that spanethosomes are promising drug delivery systems that can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of FLC for treating superficial fungal infections while minimizing systemic side effects.
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