The present study aimed to enhance the transdermal delivery of lacidipine by niosomal vesicles. Lacidipine niosomes were generated using the ultrasonic method, and Span 60 was used as a nonionic surfactant. Formulations were prepared containing Span 60 and cholesterol in 1:1 and 2:1 ratios, respectively, with essential oils added at increasing concentrations. The formulated niosomes had nano-vesicles with entrapment efficiency ranging from 75.81% to 91.25% and in-vitro drug release ranging from 80.61% to 89.81%. The optimal formulation was selected based on particle size, entrapment efficiency and in-vitro drug release. Optical microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies revealed a spherical shape of the niosomal vesicles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction studies confirmed complete encapsulation of the drug in the niosomal vesicles. The optimized formulation was also incorporated into a gel base, which was then evaluated for appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, in vitro drug release and stability. Overall, the results indicated that the developed niosomal lacidipine vesicles may provide an alternative to existing delivery systems for this drug.
Despite numerous remarkable developments in clinical therapy, the world remains firmly in the grip of fungal infections. While conventional approaches to antifungal therapy are failing, dermatophytes continue to affect people’s daily lives, especially in humid and tropical areas, and pose a major medical problem. Cubosomes, the liquid crystalline nanostructures, are among the recently developed lipid nanoparticles that could potentially overcome the hurdles of conventional therapy. In the present study, cubosomes containing luliconazole, an antifungal drug, were formulated to overcome the limitation of poor water solubility and poor bioavailability of the drug for the main purpose of treating fungal infections. Various formulations of luliconazole loaded cubosomes were prepared with different ratios of lipid (glyceryl monooleate) and surfactant (poloxamer 407) using emulsification method. The prepared formulations were optimised and the optimised cubosomal dispersion was loaded into a carbomer-934 gel to form an emulsifying gel. All cubosomal dispersions had particle sizes ranging from 124 nm to 221.1 nm, optimal zeta potential and polydispersity index, and were found to be stable. The drug entrapment efficiency of the cubosomes was over 90%. The in vitro diffusion study showed that the developed formulation had a higher release rate than the marketed formulation. The in vitro antifungal activity study confirmed that the prepared emulsion formulation was also effective against Candida albicans. The novel drug delivery system developed in this study, the cubosomal emulgel, could thus be a favourable approach for the topical delivery of luliconazole for the treatment of fungal infections.
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