PRONIOSOMAL GEL- AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR THE ENHANCED TOPICAL DELIVERY OF ECONAZOLE NITRATE

The use of topical drug delivery systems is becoming increasingly popular due to their convenience and effectiveness. However, the potential of proniosomal gel for delivering econazole nitrate topically has not been widely studied. This study focuses on designing and optimizing a proniosomal gel formulation of econazole nitrate to improve antifungal therapy. The proniosomal gel was prepared using the coacervation phase separation method, incorporating Span 60, cholesterol, and other ingredients. The ratio of non-ionic surfactants to cholesterol significantly affects drug entrapment efficiency and release characteristics. The formulated proniosomes were evaluated for parameters such as entrapment efficiency, vesicle size, and in vitro drug release. Optimization using a central composite design examined the impact of varying Span 60 and cholesterol ratios on these properties. The optimized formulation showed a sustained drug release of 12 hours and a high entrapment efficiency of 95.41% at an optimal Span 60-to-cholesterol ratio of 6.65:1. The vesicles were found to be discrete and spherical. Additionally, the optimized formulation demonstrated superior antifungal activity, showing a larger zone of inhibition compared to a marketed preparation. With sustained drug release and high entrapment efficiency, econazole nitrate proniosomal gel appears to be a promising option for enhanced skin absorption, improved patient compliance, and better therapeutic outcomes. This study supports the potential of econazole nitrate proniosomal gel in antifungal treatment.