Abstract

A NOVEL VAGINAL TABLETS LOADED WITH FLUCONAZOLE NANOSPONGES FOR VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS TO OVERCOME ANTIFUNGAL DRUG RESISTANCE

Limce Thampi*, Akshay KR, Gayathri Gopi, Nazrin KI, Ponnu Jacob and Gini EJ

Abstract

The emergence of antifungal drug resistance needs a permanent solution for the treatment of Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) among women. Fluconazole vaginal tablets using nanosponges as carrier was developed to fight the emerging fungal infections and to preclude increase of drug resistance strain. Nanosponges prepared using polymers like Ethyl Cellulose (EC) and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a surfactant using emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The formulations were evaluated for interaction studies using DSC, SEM, XRD, FT-IR and in-vitro dissolution studies. Based on the above studies and results, the optimum formulations of nanosponges along with the tablet excipients was compressed into tablets. The tablets were evaluated for precompression and post compression parameters along with in-vitro release studies at pH 4.5 to mimic the vaginal medium conditions. Based on in- vitro dissolution studies of optimized formulation a good sustained effect with high drug concentration shows the applicability of fluconazole for local controlled delivery for the treatment of Vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Keywords: Fluconazole, Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), Antifungal drug resistance, Nanosponges, Mucoadhesive vaginal tablets.