DEVELOPMENT, CHARACTERIZATION, AND EVALUATION OF TOPICAL GEL FORMULATED WITH LULICONAZOLE-LOADED SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES

Luliconazole is an antifungal medication effective against various fungi, especially filamentous fungi like dermatophytes. This study aimed to develop a topical drug delivery system for luliconazole to reduce the active drug dose, improve patient compliance, minimize side effects, and enhance local absorption and activity. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were formulated using stearic acid and poloxamer 188 via the solvent diffusion method to address luliconazole bioavailability barriers. The developed SLN and gel formulations underwent physicochemical testing, in-vitro drug release profiles, and kinetics studies. Successful formulation was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. SLN formulation F1 showed significant entrapment efficacy of 96.87 ± 0.009. The SLNs exhibited unimodal size distribution with a polydispersity index of 0.168, intercept value of 0.98 with 92% peak intensity, and zeta potential of 18.8 mV. The mean particle diameter was 344.3 nm. The G3 gel formulation, containing 1.5% w/v carbopol 934, demonstrated superior entrapment efficacy of 91.39±0.187. It also exhibited a sustained release profile, with 79.57±0.213% of the medication released after 24 hours. These findings suggest that the topical administration of luliconazole-loaded SLN-based gel with 1.5% w/v carbopol 934 may offer enhanced antifungal efficacy.