Abstract

DEVELOPMENT AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF MICONAZOLE ETHOSOMAL GEL: A REVIEW

B. Premkumar*, D. Dhachinamoorthi, S. Mohamed Shehal

ABSTRACT

Superficial fungal infections remain a significant global healthcare challenge owing to their high prevalence, recurrent nature, and the limited skin penetration achieved by conventional topical antifungal formulations. Miconazole nitrate (MIC), a broad-spectrum imidazole antifungal agent, is widely used for the treatment of dermal mycoses; however, its therapeutic efficacy is often compromised by poor aqueous solubility, limited thermodynamic activity, and inadequate permeation across the stratum corneum. Ethosomal drug delivery systems, composed of phospholipids, high concentrations of ethanol, and water, have emerged as a promising nanocarrier platform capable of enhancing transdermal and dermal drug delivery through improved vesicular flexibility and disruption of the skin lipid barrier. The incorporation of miconazole nitrate into an ethosomal gel combines the advantages of nanoscale vesicular transport with the convenience and prolonged residence time of topical gel formulations, thereby improving drug retention within the skin and enhancing antifungal efficacy.

Keywords: Miconazole nitrate; Ethosomes; Ethosomal gel; Topical drug delivery; Superficial mycoses; Nanovesicular systems; Skin permeation.