Formulation and Evaluation of Topical Microsponge Based Gel of Clotrimazole

Abstract

The study's overarching goal is to develop a novel medication delivery method based on microsponge gel containing clotrimazole. Clotrimazole is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), has a short half-life of only 2 h, & is metabolized into inert molecules by the liver. Therefore, clotrimazole's drug delivery method must be modified for topical application. Microsponge delivery is a novel approach to sustained drug release. Microsponges were made with a polymer solution of Eudragit RS 100 in dichloromethane (DCM) and ethanol (1:1) using a quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion technique. A number of metrics, including production yield, entrapment efficiency, particle size measurement, and in vitro drug release studies, were used to each microsponge formulation. For topical administration, the optimized microsponge formulation F6 was transformed into a gel formulation. Prepared gel was compared to a commercially available formulation based on physical factors such as pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content, and an in vitro diffusion investigation. Most of the formulations were discrete and spherical in shape, indicating a satisfactory production yield, suggesting quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method is a promising methodology for the fabrication of microsponge. Clotrimazole was released steadily over the course of 12 hours from the microsponge gel formulation MGI (F6). Therefore, the medicine in the form of a microsponge can reduce the risk of adverse effects and increase patient compliance by avoiding skin contact.