FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF TOLNAFTATE MICROSPONGES LOADED GELS FOR TREATMENT OF DERMATOPHYTOSIS

Pushpa Kumari, Shashi Kiran Misra* and Shraddha Pandey

ABSTRACT

Dermatophytosis is caused by dermatophytes (fungi) that can invade the epithelial tissue or stratum corneum. It extensively occurs in warm humid environment and in immuno-compromised persons. Dermatophytes are classified into three genera, Trichophyton (M.canis, M.gypseum), Microsporum (M.canis, M.gypseum) and Epidermophyton (E.floccosum) which causes dermatophytosis such as tinea pedis, tinea corporis, tinea mannum, tinea cruris and tinea capatis. Here we formulated Tolnaftate loaded topically active microsponges by quassi emulsion solvent diffusion method for effectively eradicating dermatophytes. Two grades of Eudragit (ERL 100 and ERS 100) alone and in combination were selected to evaluate for their active role in controlled drug release at target site. The microsponges were characterized through and evaluated for FTIR, SEM, DSC, TGA studies, particle size, drug content, in vitro drug release, following peppas release kinetics and selected for formulation of topical gels and anti fungal activity. From in vitro drug release study it was concluded that microsponge formulated by ERL 100: ERS 100 (3:1) exhibited maximum controlled release & this formulation was subjected for topical active gels preparation. On applying various drug release kinetics model it was found that formulated gels followed peppas model with diffusion coefficient less than 0.5, describing fickian diffusion type of drug release. Hence formulated tolnaftate loaded gels have potential to treat dermatophytosis and can be used to treat other tinea infections.

Keywords: Microsponges, Dermatophytosis, Tolnaftate, ERL/ERS 100, Tinea pedis.