Fluconazole-Niosome-Laden Contact Lens: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Prolonged Ocular Delivery and Enhanced Antifungal Activity

Abstract

Background Traditional routes of administration of fluconazole such as eye drops have a low therapeutic efficacy due to insufficient bioavailability. Purpose Herein, a fluconazole noisome-laden contact lens was prepared to control and prolong the drug release and improve its bioavailability. Methods Two methods have been used to prepare fluconazole niosomes: solvent injection method and thin film hydration method utilizing span 60 and cholesterol mixture. Subsequently, formulations were optimized using three factors and a two-level factorial design and were subjected to in-vitro characterization for the size of niosomes, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency percent, and cytotoxicity study. The optimized fluconazole niosomes were further entrapped in contact lenses by the soaking method and were evaluated according to in-vitro release profile, and antimicrobial activity. Results The results revealed that the investigated fluconazole niosomes are of nano-size ranging from 228.2 to 769.2 nm with zeta-potential values between − 18.1 and − 60.2 mV. The entrapment efficiency percentage ranged from 51.3 to 75%. Fluconazole was released from fluconazole noisome-laden contact lens and showed a prolonged release up to 48–72 h with a cumulative release of 79.62%. Statistical analysis showed that fluconazole-noisome-laden contact lenses have a significant impressive fungal adhesion reduction as compared to fluconazole-laden contact lenses. Conclusion Fluconazole noisome-laden contact lenses are a promising therapeutic way for effective and prolonged treatment of ocular fungal infection.