Novel Cream Containing Microsponges of Anti-Acne Agent: Formulation Development and Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science

Background:

• Miconazole nitrate is a common antifungal agent.
• Conventional topical formulations often suffer from rapid drug release and limited efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To formulate a novel cream containing miconazole nitrate microsponges for sustained drug delivery.
• To optimize microsponge formulation and evaluate its physicochemical properties and in vitro drug release.

Main Methods:

• Microsponges were prepared using the quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method with Eudragit RS-100.
• Formulations were characterized using SEM, DSC, FT-IR, and particle size analysis.
• In vitro drug release studies were conducted to compare with conventional formulations.

Main Results:

• Miconazole nitrate microsponges were successfully prepared with spherical morphology and a porous surface (mean particle size 26.23 μm).
• No chemical interactions were observed between the drug and polymers.
• The optimized microsponge formulation (drug-polymer ratio 1:2) exhibited sustained release of 78.28% over 8 hours, significantly longer than conventional formulations.

Conclusions:

• The developed miconazole nitrate microsponge cream provides prolonged drug release, enhancing therapeutic potential.
• This formulation represents a promising alternative to conventional therapies for acne and other topical infections.
• The study highlights the efficacy of microencapsulation for improving topical drug delivery systems.