Advanced invasomal delivery system for enhanced topical application of bifonazole in fungal infections

The design and development of invasomes containing bifonazole for effective topical fungal treatment was investigated to improve the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of this antifungal agent. Invasomes, novel lipid-based vesicular systems, were formulated to enhance skin penetration and provide sustained drug release, thereby increasing the local concentration of bifonazole at the site of infection. The formulation was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM), where various factors such as phosphatidylcholine, terpenes, and ethanol were varied to evaluate their effects on entrapment efficiency, vesicle size, and drug release characteristics. The optimized invasomal formulation demonstrated high entrapment efficiency (~74.12%) and an average vesicle size of 154.45 nm, suitable for effective skin penetration. In vitro release studies revealed sustained drug release from the invasomes, with a slower release profile compared to the plain drug. The optimized formulation exhibited enhanced antifungal activity, suggesting that invasomes could serve as a promising carrier for the topical delivery of bifonazole, offering a potential solution for treating superficial fungal infections with improved efficacy and patient compliance.