Development and Optimization of Nail Lacquer Containing Fluconazole for Transungual Drug Delivery System

The present investigation focuses on the Optimization and formulation of medicated nail lacquer containing Fluconazole for transungual drug delivery system using ethyl cellulose as polymer and two different penetration enhancers. Fluconazole is a tri azole antifungal drug having broad spectrum activity. It acts by inhibiting 14 – α demethylase, a cytochrome P450 enzyme which converts lanosterol to ergosterol. Ergosterol inhibition causes increase in permeability of cellular membrane of fungi and hence leakage of cellular components. In present study Formulations were designed according by the design expert software 8.0.7.1 and the central composite design was selected for designing of experiments. The prepared formulations were evaluated for the different parameters such as drying time, smoothness of flow, gloss, water resistance, non – volatile content, drug content, in – vitro diffusion studies, in – vitro permeation studies, drug release kinetic studies. By applying the available information from the evaluation of nail lacquer 35 optimized formulations were obtained and out of which three were selected for further studies. Three optimized products were subjected to different evaluation parameters, drug release kinetics, anti – fungal testing and stability studies. Key words: transungual drug delivery, Fluconazole, optimization, penetration enhancers, in – vitro permeation studies, ethyl cellulose.