Formulation and Evaluation of Clotrimazole Mucoadhesive Vaginal Globules

The aim of this study was to prepare vaginal suppositories with mucoadhesive properties to prolong the action of antifungal component clotrimazole (CLO). This was achieved by preparing vaginal pessaries on a hydrophilic gel base composed of gelatin and gelatin enriched with PEG 400 (in a 1:1 ratio), and then checking the properties of the obtained vaginal drugs. The prepared globules, containing 100 mg of CLO, were characterized in terms of mass and swelling index, organoleptic analysis was also prepared. In addition, a texture analysis and a study of the dissolution of clotrimazole were performed. On the basis of the obtained results, it was concluded that the modification of the composition of the gelatin-glycerin base by the addition of macrogol had a positive effect on the mucoadhesive properties of the globules. In addition, due to the presence of PEG 400, the globules were stiffer. It was also observed that the presence of CLO reduces the value of the force needed for compression during the texture analysis study. Comparing the CLO release profiles of the prepared globules and commercially available clotrimazole tablets, the release profile for the globules was slower than for the tablets, which indicates the possibility of using mucoadhesive globules as a form of a drug that releases the medicinal substance more slowly at the site of administration.