Development of ciclopirox olamine loaded cubosomal patch for fungal infections

Abstract Fungal skin infections often require prolonged therapy; however, conventional ciclopirox olamine (CO) formulations exhibit poor penetration and limited skin retention, reducing efficacy. This study aimed to develop a CO-loaded cubosomal hydrogel patch to enhance skin permeation, retention, and antifungal activity. Cubosomes were prepared using glyceryl monooleate and Kolliphor 407 by the top-down technique and optimized through a 23 factorial design for particle size and entrapment efficiency. The optimized cubosomal dispersion was incorporated into a hydrogel patch containing sodium alginate and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose by solvent casting. Formulations were evaluated for physicochemical properties, drug release, permeation, antifungal activity, histocompatibility, and stability. Optimized cubosomes showed nanosized particles with high entrapment efficiency and stable morphology. FTIR and XRD confirmed successful encapsulation without interaction, while SEM revealed a porous surface enabling controlled diffusion. The optimized patch exhibited sustained release (97.82 % over 48 h), enhanced skin permeation (96.41 %), and stronger antifungal activity against Candida albicans compared to marketed cream. It demonstrated suitable mechanical strength, pH compatibility, biocompatibility, and three-month stability.