Development of Miconazole Nitrate Nanoparticles Loaded in Nanoemulgel to Improve its Antifungal Activity

Nanoparticles of Thiolated Xanthan Gum for the Oral Delivery of Miconazole Nitrate: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

The objective of this research was to develop a mucoadhesive delivery system that improves permeation for the administration of poorly absorbed oral medications. Thiolation of xanthan gum (XGM) was carried out by esterification with mercaptobutyric acid. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy was used to confirm thiol-derivatization. Using Ellman's technique, it was revealed that the xanthan-mercaptobutyric acid conjugate had 4.7 mM of thiol groups in 2 mg/mL of polymeric solution. Using mucosa of sheep intestine, the mucoadhesive properties of XGM and thiolated xanthan gum (TXGM) nanoparticles were investigated and we found that TXGM had a longer bioadhesion time than XGM. The disulfide link that forms between mucus and thiolated XGM explains why it has better mucoadhesive properties than XGM. A study on in vitro miconazole (MCZ) release using phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) found that TXGM nanoparticles released MCZ more steadily than MCZ dispersion did. A 1-fold increase in the permeation of MCZ was observed from nanoparticles using albino rat intestine compared to MCZ. Albino rats were used to test the pharmacokinetics of MCZ, and the results showed a 4.5-fold increase in bioavailability. In conclusion, the thiolation of XGM enhances its bioavailability, controlled release of MCZ for a long period of time, and mucoadhesive activity.

Novel Therapeutic Hybrid Systems Using Hydrogels and Nanotechnology: A Focus on Nanoemulgels for the Treatment of Skin Diseases

Topical and transdermal drug delivery are advantageous administration routes, especially when treating diseases and conditions with a skin etiology. Nevertheless, conventional dosage forms often lead to low therapeutic efficacy, safety issues, and patient noncompliance. To tackle these issues, novel topical and transdermal platforms involving nanotechnology have been developed. This review focuses on the latest advances regarding the development of nanoemulgels for skin application, encapsulating a wide variety of molecules, including already marketed drugs (miconazole, ketoconazole, fusidic acid, imiquimod, meloxicam), repurposed marketed drugs (atorvastatin, omeprazole, leflunomide), natural-derived compounds (eucalyptol, naringenin, thymoquinone, curcumin, chrysin, brucine, capsaicin), and other synthetic molecules (ebselen, tocotrienols, retinyl palmitate), for wound healing, skin and skin appendage infections, skin inflammatory diseases, skin cancer, neuropathy, or anti-aging purposes. Developed formulations revealed adequate droplet size, PDI, viscosity, spreadability, pH, stability, drug release, and drug permeation and/or retention capacity, having more advantageous characteristics than current marketed formulations. In vitro and/or in vivo studies established the safety and efficacy of the developed formulations, confirming their therapeutic potential, and making them promising platforms for the replacement of current therapies, or as possible adjuvant treatments, which might someday effectively reach the market to help fight highly incident skin or systemic diseases and conditions.

Impact of miconazole nitrate ferrying cationic and anionic nanoemulsion and gels on permeation profiles of across EpiDerm, artificial membrane, and skin: Instrumental evidences

Based on our previous report, the study was extended to investigate the impact of miconazole nitrate (MCN) loaded cationic/anionic nanoemulsions and nanoemulsion gels on permeation behaviour across artificial-membrane, EpiDerm, and rat skin. Nanoemulsions and gels were evaluated for size, charge, viscosity, size-distribution, pH, and percent entrapment efficiency (%EE). In vitro drug diffusion across artificial membrane and EpiDerm were conducted to get diffusion coefficients. Permeation profiles were studied using rat skin to investigate mechanistic insight of formulated mediated permeation followed by CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscopy), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), AFM (atomic force microscopy), and irritation studies. Results showed that MCNE11-Rh (probed cationic nanoemulsion at pH ∼ 7.2) and MNE11-Rh (probed anionic nanoemulsion at pH ∼ 7.2) showed size values of 158 nm and 145 nm, respectively whereas MCNE11-GR (probed cationic nanoemulsion gel at pH ∼ 6.8) and MNE11-GR (probed anionic nanoemulsion gel at pH ∼ 6.8) exhibited size values 257 nm and 243 nm, respectively. The %EE values were found to be as 91.5 % and 89.6 % for MCNE11-Rh and MNE11-Rh, respectively. The gels (∼6000 cP) elicited relatively high viscosity than nanoemulsions (∼3300 - 3500 cP). MCNE11-GR showed the highest values of permeation flux, diffusion rate, diffusion coefficient (D), and permeation coefficient (P) across artificial membrane, EpiDerm, and rat skin which may be attributed to three potential factors (cationic charge, composition, and hydration by the hydrophilic gel) working in tandem. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by the MCNE11-GR was maximum (14.4 g/m2h) than control (6.1 g/m2h) indicating augmented interaction of MCNE11-Rh with skin components. Conclusively, cationic nanoemulsion gel was promising carrier for enhanced permeation and the drug access to the dermal region to treat deep seated fungal infections.

Development and evaluation of an anti-candida cream based on silver nanoparticles

The ineffectiveness of azole drugs in treating Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) and Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (RVVC) due to antifungal resistance of non-albicans Candida has led to the investigation of inorganic nanoparticles with biological activity. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are important in nanomedicine and have been used in various products and technologies. This study aimed to develop a vaginal cream and assess its in vitro antimicrobial activity against Candida parapsilosis strains, specifically focusing on the synergy between AgNPs and miconazole. AgNPs were synthesized using glucose as a reducing agent and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a stabilizer in varying amounts (0.50, 0.25, and 0.10 g). The AgNPs were characterized using UV-Visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX). Fifty strains of Candida parapsilosis were used to evaluate the synergistic activity. AgNPs synthesized with 0.5 g SDS had an average size of 77.58 nm and a zeta potential of -49.2 mV, while AgNPs with 0.25 g showed 91.22 nm and -47.2 mV, respectively. AgNPs stabilized with 0.1 g of SDS were not effective. When combined with miconazole, AgNPs exhibited significant antifungal activity, resulting in an average increase of 80% in inhibition zones. The cream developed in this study, containing half the miconazole concentration of commercially available medication, demonstrated larger inhibition zones compared to the commercial samples.

A promising synthetic citric crosslinked β-cyclodextrin derivative for antifungal drugs: Solubilization, cytotoxicity, and antifungal activity

Effective antifungal therapy for the treatment of fungal keratitis requires a high drug concentration at the corneal surface. However, the use of natural β-cyclodextrin (βCD) in the preparation of aqueous eye drop formulations for treating fungal keratitis is limited by its low aqueous solubility. Here, we synthesized water-soluble anionic βCD derivatives capable of forming water-soluble complexes and evaluated the solubility, cytotoxicity, and antifungal efficacy of drug prepared using the βCD derivative. To achieve this, a citric acid crosslinked βCD (polyCTR-βCD) was successfully synthesized, and the aqueous solubilities of selected antifungal drugs, including voriconazole, miconazole (MCZ), itraconazole, and amphotericin B, in polyCTR-βCD and analogous βCD solutions were evaluated. Among the drugs tested, complexation of MCZ with polyCTR-βCD (MCZ/polyCTR-βCD) increased MCZ aqueous solubility by 95-fold compared with that of MCZ/βCD. The inclusion complex formation of MCZ/βCD and MCZ/polyCTR-βCD was confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. Additionally, the nanoaggregates of saturated MCZ/polyCTR-βCD and MCZ/βCD solutions were observed using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, MCZ/polyCTR-βCD solution exhibited good mucoadhesion, sustained drug release, and high drug permeation of porcine cornea ex vivo. Hen's Egg test-chorioallantoic membrane assay and cell viability study using Statens Seruminstitut Rabbit Cornea cell line showed that both MCZ/polyCTR-βCD and MCZ/βCD exhibited no sign of irritation and non-toxic to cell line. Additionally, antifungal activity evaluation demonstrated that all isolated fungi, including Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium solani, were susceptible to MCZ/polyCTR-βCD. Overall, the results showed that polyCTR-βCD could be a promising nanocarrier for the ocular delivery of MCZ.

Superficial Dermatophytosis across the World's Populations: Potential Benefits from Nanocarrier-Based Therapies and Rising Challenges

The most prevalent infection in the world is dermatophytosis, which is a major issue with high recurrence and can affect the entire body including the skin, hair, and nails. The major goal of this Review is to acquire knowledge about cutting-edge approaches for treating dermatophytosis efficiently by adding antifungals to formulations based on nanocarriers in order to overcome the shortcomings of standard treatment methods. Updates on nanosystems and research developments on animal and clinical investigations are also presented. Along with the currently licensed formulations, the investigation also emphasizes novel therapies and existing therapeutic alternatives that can be used to control dermatophytosis. The Review also summarizes recent developments on the prevalence, management approaches, and disadvantages of standard dosage types. There are a number of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of dermatophytosis that have good clinical cure rates but also drawbacks such as antifungal drug resistance and unfavorable side effects. To improve therapeutic activity and get around the drawbacks of the traditional therapy approaches for dermatophytosis, efforts have been described in recent years to combine several antifungal drugs into new carriers. These formulations have been successful in providing improved antifungal activity, longer drug retention, improved effectiveness, higher skin penetration, and sustained drug release.