Formulation and Invitro Evaluation of Luliconazole Phytosomal Gel for Topical Drug Delivery

Abstract

Due to its decreased water solubility, luliconazole a recently produced imidazole molecule with antifungal properties has a reduced cutaneous bioavailability, which hinders its topical distribution. Permeation is further hindered by its poor solubility in the stratum corneum's lipid phase. This work aimed to improve drug entrapment, solubility, permeability, safety, and efficacy by developing a stable phytosomal gel formulation of albendazole. A UV-Spectrophotometric technique was developed with R2 = 0.9944 to accurately estimate the concentration of luliconazole (2–18 μg/ml) at 296 nm. Using a thin layer approach, the formulation included a phospholipid-luclonazole complex that was produced by solvent evaporation and then applied to phytosome vesicles at different molar ratios and concentrations. The phytosome's vesicle diameters were decreased by sonication. With an ideal formulation of 1% silymarin-phospholipid complex and a molar ratio of 1:5 for luliconazole to phospholipid, the phytosomal properties were as desired: the mean vesicle diameter was 117.15 nm, the polidispersity index was 0.268, and the entrapment efficiency was 96.60±0.0131%. The improved Phytosomes were uniformly spherical and free of drug crystals, as proven by TEM pictures. The ideal formulation was used to make gel at different doses, and numerous physicochemical parameters, such as viscosity, pH, and spreadability, as well as drug content and release, were assessed. Because the phytosomal gel F9 has better release characteristics than the pure drug control gel, it was selected as the optimal formulation.