FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF TOPICAL NANOEMULGEL OF NAFTIFINE HYDROCHLORIDE

The objective of this study was to develop a Naftifine Hydrochloride (2 % w/w) formulation in the form of a nanoemulsion-based emulgel. The nanoemulsion was prepared using high-speed homogenization and evaluated for various physicochemical properties. Emulsion instability issues were addressed by formulating a drug-loaded Nanoemulgel using a 32 full factorial design, with almond oil concentration and homogenization speed (rpm) as independent variables, each at three levels. Prior to formulation, preformulation studies were conducted to assess the drug’s purity, compatibility with excipients, and physicochemical characteristics. These included organoleptic evaluation, melting point, solubility, UV spectroscopy, and FTIR analysis, all of which confirmed the drug's compatibility with the excipients used in the formulation. The drug-loaded nanoemulsions were further evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The drug-loaded emulgel was characterized for physical appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content, in vitro drug release, antifungal activity, and accelerated stability. Results indicated that the Naftifine Hydrochloride -loaded nanoemulgel has potential as an effective delivery system, offering controlled drug release through percutaneous absorption. This formulation also demonstrated enhanced stability, making it a promising candidate for the treatment of fungal infections with prolonged therapeutic effects.