Formulation and Evaluation of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles of Bifonazole

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop suitable solid lipid nanoparticles for topical delivery of Bifonazole. Bifonazole is an imidazole antifungal drug used in form of ointments. It was patented in 1974 and approved for medical use in 1983. Bifonazole having broad spectrum activity against dermatophytes, moulds, yeasts, fungi and some gram positive bacteria. BFZ SLNs systems were developed by melt emulsification followed by solvent evaporation technique using Compritol 888ATO (Glyceryl behenate) as a solid lipid and Tween 80 as a surfactant. Developed SLNs were evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index (PI), entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug release profiles. Process and formulation parameters were optimized. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were carried out on SLNs to mark the changes in the drug and lipid modifications. The BFZ SLNs based gels were prepared using Carbopol 940 as a gelling agent. The SLNs based gels were evaluated for rheological parameters, in vitro drug release and permeation studies. In vitro antifungal study suggested that the SLNs based gel was more effective in inhibiting growth of Candida albicans. Thus the study concludes that SLNs based gel of BFZ gives a sustained release profile of BFZ and has the potential for treatment of topical fungal infections.