Improved vaginal retention and enhanced antifungal activity of miconazole microsponges gel: Formulation development and in vivo therapeutic efficacy in rats.

Abstract

Traditional azole antifungal formulations suffer from poor retention in the vaginal cavity, irritation and burning of the vaginal area. In the present work, we aim at the development of a novel miconazole (MCZ) microsponges gel as an attractive dosage form for vaginal candidiasis. The proposed formula has the potential to minimize the local side effects of the drug due to the controlled release characteristic, which increases patient compliance. Moreover, the mucosal retention effect of the microsponges in addition to the bioadhesion property of Carbopol gel prolongs the retention of the dosage form in the vagina and consequently improves the therapeutic efficiency. MCZ microsponges were prepared applying Quasi emulsion method using Eudragit RS100. The effect of formulation factors, namely, drug:polymer ratio (1:1, 2:1 and 4:1), the amount of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) (25, 50 and 75mg) and the volume of organic solvent (2.5, 5, 10mL) on the characteristics of MCZ microsponges has been investigated. The microsponges were optimized regarding the production yield (68.8±6.4%), particle size (78.2±2.1μm), entrapment efficiency (92.9±1.9%) and release rate (Q150 51.8±2.5%). The selected formula was further evaluated for its, flowability, porosity and surface morphology. MCZ microsponges were incorporated into Carbopol gel, then the viscosity and bioadhesion were examined. The in vitro antifungal activity of MCZ microsponges gel was comparable to the market product. In vivo, MCZ microsponges vaginal gel was more effective than the market product (p<0.05) in eradicating Candida infection in rats, which was supported by the histopathological findings.

• Authors: Salwa Salah, Ghada E A Awad, Amal I A Makhlouf
• Journal: European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences (Eur J Pharm Sci) Vol. 114 Pg. 255-266 (Mar 01 2018) ISSN: 1879-0720 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 29288706 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Drug Carriers
• Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
• Miconazole

Topics

• Animals
• Antifungal Agents (administration & dosage, chemistry, metabolism)
• Contraceptive Devices, Female
• Drug Carriers (administration & dosage, chemistry, metabolism)
• Drug Compounding
• Drug Delivery Systems (methods)
• Female
• Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable
• Miconazole (administration & dosage, chemistry, metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Treatment Outcome
• Vagina (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
• Vaginitis (drug therapy, pathology)