Hollow pessary loaded with lawsone via self-microemulsifying drug delivery system for vaginal candidiasis

Emulsion-Based Multicompartment Vaginal Drug Carriers: From Nanoemulsions to Nanoemulgels

“…In the revised studies only five micro- and nanoemulsion formulations fall within the physiological range of pH values < 4.5 [ 82 , 84 , 86 , 92 , 93 ]. For other reported formulations the pH values were higher and fell within the slightly acidic range, also considered as physiological [ 78 , 85 , 91 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 102 ]. Some of the formulations pH values exceeded physiological range [ 89 , 90 , 101 ], creating a risk of bacterial infections.…”

“…In order to obtain the highest possible concentration of poorly soluble active substances in the formulation the solubility studies of an API are conducted using mixtures of oil and surfactants. This may consequently be a determining factor for the choice of surfactants and cosurfactants, especially if these systems have a high SOR value [ 79 , 82 , 84 , 85 , 90 , 92 , 97 , 98 , 99 ]. As surfactants are used as spermicides with vaginal mucosa irritating properties [ 100 ], analysis of their safety profile after the vaginal application is another important criterion in the surfactant selection process.…”

“…An example of the beneficial effect of ethylene glycol used as a cosurfactant in combination with the Cremophor EL in microemulsions and nanoemulsions with ethyl oleate as an oil phase is the achievement of a twofold reduction of the inner phase droplet size and a significant reduction of PDI compared to formulations obtained without the addition of the cosurfactant [ 116 , 117 ]. The commonly used cosurfactants in the EVDF include ( Table 3 ): short-chain mono- and polyhydric alcohols [ 79 , 83 , 85 , 86 , 90 , 92 , 98 ], soybean phosphatidylcholine [ 75 ], fatty acids and fatty acid esters [ 91 , 105 ], polyethylene glycols and their derivatives [ 74 , 94 , 95 , 99 , 105 ] and polysorbates [ 78 , 93 , 97 ].…”

“…II apparatus, however, the test formulation is placed in a dialysis bag or in a disc covered with a semipermeable membrane immersed below a paddle agitator in a vessel filled with acceptor medium. Citrate and phosphate buffer solutions or simulated vaginal discharge are used as the acceptor medium for pharmaceutical bioavailability studies, while sampling is performed in an automated manner at predefined time points [ 79 , 81 , 82 , 87 , 88 , 90 , 97 ]. As an alternative, the drug release/membrane penetration studies from EVDF can be performed using dialysis bags, tubes or chambers immersed in a vessel with mixed and thermostated acceptor medium, e.g., simulated vaginal discharge while samples are withdrawn at predefined time points [ 74 , 85 , 92 , 98 , 99 , 102 , 103 ].…”

“…Pandit et al [ 97 ] developed lawsone (an antifungal agent obtained from henna) SMEDDS incorporated into easy-to-administer hollow pessaries. Emulsification of lawsone in the formulation provided a higher antifungal activity in vitro as compared to neat lawsone.…”