Abstract

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MICONAZOLE NITRATE NANOPARTICLES LOADED GEL

Mamatha G. T., Mahalakshmi A. S.*, Parthiban S.

ABSTRACT

The present study focuses on the development and characterization of Miconazole Nitrate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles prepared by the ionic gelation method and their incorporation into a Carbopol 934-based gel for topical antifungal therapy. Miconazole Nitrate, a broad-spectrum antifungal drug, was encapsulated within chitosan nanoparticles to enhance its solubility, stability, and skin permeability. The optimized formulation (F1) showed favourable physicochemical characteristics, including uniform particle size, high entrapment efficiency, and good stability. The nanoparticle-loaded gels F1G1–F1G4 were evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, and extrudability, which were within acceptable limits for topical application. In-vitro drug release studies demonstrated a biphasic pattern with an initial burst followed by sustained release up to 12 hours, governed by a Higuchi diffusion-controlled mechanism. Among all formulations, F1G1 exhibited the highest cumulative release of 92.35%. The In-vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans revealed that the nanoparticle-loaded gels produced a larger zone of inhibition compared to the pure drug and control, indicating superior efficacy. Overall, the developed Miconazole Nitrate nanoparticle-loaded gel exhibited controlled and sustained release, improved antifungal activity, and enhanced patient compliance, suggesting its potential as an effective topical drug delivery system for fungal infections.

Keywords: Miconazole Nitrate, Chitosan Nanoparticles, Ionic Gelation, Topical Drug Delivery, Antifungal Activity, Candida albicans.