Formulation and characterization of nystatin gel

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science

Background:

• Topical drug delivery systems require optimized vehicles for enhanced efficacy.
• Carbopol 934 (CP) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) are commonly used polymers in pharmaceutical formulations.
• Nystatin is an antifungal agent often formulated for topical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize novel gel bases using carbopol 934 (CP) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) for topical nystatin delivery.
• To evaluate the impact of CP-HPMC combinations on rheological properties and drug diffusion.
• To determine the optimal CP-HPMC ratio for enhanced topical drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of CP-HPMC gels with nystatin at a constant drug concentration (1.72% w/w).
• Rheological studies to assess viscosity and flow behavior.
• In-vitro diffusion studies to evaluate drug release kinetics.
• Varied CP:HPMC ratios (0:1, 1:0, 1:2, 2:1, 1:1) at a total polymer concentration of 1.5% w/w.

Main Results:

• The CP-HPMC combination (2:1 ratio) exhibited the highest viscosity and pseudoplastic thixotropic behavior.
• The 2:1 CP-HPMC ratio demonstrated the highest nystatin diffusion percentage compared to other formulations.
• CP-HPMC gels showed superior gel strength, physical properties, and drug diffusion compared to CP or HPMC alone.

Conclusions:

• The combination of carbopol 934 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose provides an effective gel vehicle for topical nystatin delivery.
• Optimized CP-HPMC ratios enhance the physical properties and drug release characteristics of topical formulations.
• This novel gel base holds significant potential for improving the efficacy of topical antifungal treatments.