Formulation and Evaluation of Nanosponges Loaded Bifonazole for Fungal Infection

Background: Nanosponge is a novel approach to topical drug delivery, especially for fungal infections. Nanosponges are a unique class of nanoparticles with three-dimensional nanostructure and nanometers wide cavities, which can encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic substances providing increased efficacy and safety. Objective: To formulate and evaluate Bifonazole loaded nanosponges in hydrogels for the treatment of fungal diseases. Methods: Bifonazole-loaded nanosponges were formulated using the emulsion solvent diffusion technique. Interaction of drug-ethyl cellulose polymer along with other excipients’ was done by using FTIR as well as DSC. The nanosponges formulations were evaluated with different parameters. Results: Particle size and Zeta potential of Bifonazole loaded nanosponges for formulations were between the range of 183.7 to 560.2 nm and –17.77 to –21.9 mV, respectively. The surface morphology of nanosponges by SEM disclosed that it was spherical and porous in nature. Drug entrapment efficiency was found to be 45.44 to 79.71%. The drug release study was done by using a phosphate buffer with a pH of 6.8. Further in vitro release data was fitted into kinetic models. The optimized formulation M6 was incorporated with hydrogels; to further evaluated using parameters such as in vitro drug release studies, viscosity, pH and skin irritation studies using rat model. Stability studies of hydrogel formulation MH2 revealed no changes in in-vitro drug release, pH and drug content study at the completion of 6 months. Conclusion: Thus, the findings indicated that the prepared Bifonazole loaded nanosponges into hydrogel were stable. Hence, it could be a suitable dosage form for the cure of fungal infections in the skin.