• Mr. VILAS S. BHAGAT
• Dr. SURESH KUMAR DEV
• Mr. Akhil Mangal

ABSTRACT In this study, Oxiconazole nitrate microsponge were prepared by quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. The microsponges thus prepared, were evaluated for production yield, loading efficiency, particle size analysis, SEM, IR, DSC, PXRD, characterization of pore structure, in-vitro release study of microsponges, and stability. Then, gels loaded with microsponge and plain drug were formulated and evaluated for rheology, diffusion, skin irritation and antifungal activity. Antifungal activity of Oxiconazole nitrate containing microspongic gels were compared with marketed formulations. The microsponges showed good production yield, loading efficiency and particle size. All characteristic peaks of the drugs were concordant with IR spectra of pure drugs. PXRD and DSC studies revealed amorphization of drugs. SEM images showed that styrene microsponges prepared by suspension polymerization were finely spherical and uniform, while Eudragit microsponges prepared by quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method were comparatively less spherical. According to intrusion and extrusion curves, majority of the pores present in Eudragit microsponges were spherical type, whereas the pores of styrene microsponges were mainly cylindrical-hole type. BET multipoint adsorption isotherm studies revealed that the percent of porosity of styrene microsponges is comparatively higher than Eudragit based microsponges. During the storage of drug-entrapped microsponges at 40±2°C and 75±5% RH for 6 months, surface morphology and release of drug showed no notable changes. Viscosity determination of gel showed that gels loaded with microsponge are more viscous than gel loaded with plain drug. The controlled drug release was observed with all the microspongic gels. Antifungal activity of gels containing microsponge entrapped Oxiconazole nitrate showed that antifungal activity of drugs was retained even after entrapment in microsponges and it was higher as compared with the gel containing free drug and marketed formulation. Gels containing drugs entrapped in microsponges showed reduced skin irritation when compared with gels containing free drug and marketed formulations. Hence, the present work concluded that MDS has a great potential in topical delivery of Oxiconazole nitrate, with added advantage of reduction in irritation profile due to the controlled release and possible enhancement in the activity due to amorphization of the drug.

Key words: Micro sponge Drug delivery system, Oxiconazole nitrate, anti-fungal activity, quasi emulsification technique.

"FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND IN-VITRO EVALUTION OF OXICONAZOLE NITRATE MICROSPONGE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM OF ANTIFUNGAL DRUG", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 3, page no.b393-b412, March-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2403151.pdf

"FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND IN-VITRO EVALUTION OF OXICONAZOLE NITRATE MICROSPONGE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM OF ANTIFUNGAL DRUG", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 3, page no. ppb393-b412, March-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2403151.pdf