DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ITRACONAZOLE LOADED NANOSPONGES FOR TOPICAL DRUG DELIVERY

The aim of present research work isto develop a topical gel formulation of Itraconazole loaded nanosponges to increase the solubility, permeability, stability and  to control the Itraconazole release for a prolonged period.Itraconazole loaded nanosponges was prepared by  cross-linking different concentrations of  β- Cyclodextrin withcarbonate bonds of di phenyl carbonate in different proportions, which are porous as well as nanosized.Drug was incorporated by solvent evaporation method by dissolving the drug in various solvents like ethanol, acetone and chloroform. The preparednanosponges were incorporated into carbopol gel. From the encapsulation efficiency of the drug loaded nanosponges  formulations,it was observed that  as the crosslinking ratio increased the encapsulation efficiency  was found  to be enhanced. It is also found that the encapsulation efficiency of drug loaded nanospongeswereinfluenced by the solvent used for drug loading by solvent evaporation technique.  Based on the drug encapsulation efficiency , drug   content and extent of sustained nature , the gel prepared with β- Cyclodextrin and crosslinking agent in 1:1 ratio, chloroform as a solvent and carbopol as agellling agent (I12 formulation)  was concluded to be the best formulation. All the formulations followed  zero order release kinetics and  mechanism of drug release was governed by Peppas model.The diffusion  exponential coefficient(n) values  were found to be in between  0.9402to 1.1864indicating  non ficki an diffusion mechanisam.

Keywords: Itraconazole, β-cyclodextrin, nanosponges, diffusion rate