Fluconazole and Curcumin Loaded Nanoemulsion Against Multiple Drug Resistance Dermatophytes

Abstract

Purpose: Topical nanoemulsion comprising of fluconazole and curcumin was developed to target multiple drug resistance dermatophytes infection and to facilitate cutaneous delivery of these poorly water soluble drugs. Methods: Almond oil, sesame oil and paraffin light were used to formulate nanoemulsions and screened for the stability. The solubility of fluconazole and curcumin in surfactants, co-surfactants and oils was screened to decide the various components of the nanoemulsion. The oil phase was light paraffin whereas tween 80 and span 80 were the surfactants and ethanol was used as a co-surfactant. To identify the area of nanoemulsion existence, a pseudoternary diagram was drawn and optimum systems were developed. Drug-loading efficiency was assessed and the developed nanoemulsions were characterized for globule size, stability, robustness to dilution and pH. The optimized nanoemulsion was further evaluated for drug content, viscosity, skin permeation study (ex vivo) and assay of antifungal activity. Results: The globule size was below 200 nm and uniform for the optimized nanoemulsion formulation. It showed enhanced skin permeation (ex vivo) and better antifungal efficacy as compared to the native form of fluconazole and curcumin suspensions. Antimicrobial assay confirmed the synergistic effect of fluconazole and curcumin combination against multiple drug resistance Trychophytum rubrum and Trichophyton metagrophytes as compared to the fluconazole alone. Conclusion: The results clearly indicate an optimized delivery of fluconazole and curcumin in a synergistic way from the nanoemulsion formulation. This resulted in better penetration of these poorly soluble molecules and overall enhanced antifungal activity as compared to these drugs as such against multiple drug resistance dermatophytes.

Neem Oil or Almond Oil Nanoemulsions for Vitamin E Delivery: From Structural Evaluation to in vivo Assessment of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity

“…44 Sample A1, with the lowest Tween 80 concentration was found to display the highest hydrodynamic diameter ( Tables 2 and 3S ). NE composition and NE preparation allowed to obtain a hydrodynamic diameter of about 100 nm without using a mixture of surfactants with different HLB 60 or ethanol, as co-surfactant. 61 …”

“…44 Sample A1, with the lowest Tween 80 concentration was found to display the highest hydrodynamic diameter (Tables 2 and 3S). NE composition and NE preparation allowed to obtain a hydrodynamic diameter of about 100 nm without using a mixture of surfactants with different HLB 60 or ethanol, as co-surfactant. 61 In Neem-based NEs (sample N1 and N2, Table 3S), the nanodroplet size was not affected by the amount of surfactant, seemingly being the fraction of surfactant high enough to stabilize Neem oil small droplets.…”

Potential of Curcumin in the Management of Skin Diseases

“…A nanoemulsion was optimized in which the globule size was smaller than 200 nm and showed increased permeability through the skin and better antifungal effectiveness compared to the native form of fluconazole and CUR suspension. An antifungal test confirmed the synergistic effect of the combination of fluconazole and CUR against multidrug resistance of Trychophytum rubrum and Trichophyton metagrophytes compared to fluconazole alone [108]. The aim of the next study was to prepare biocurcumin (CMN) nanoemulsion (CMN-NE) for transdermal administration in the treatment of mycoses.…”

Tizanidine Nano emulsion: Formulation and in-vitro Characterization

“…Six cycles at temperatures ranging from 4 to 45 oC, with storage at each temperature for no less than 48 hours. A cycle of freezing and thawing was performed on stable formulations that were not affected by the temperatures tested (15).…”