FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT, CHARACTERIZATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF LULICONAZOLE AND CLOBETASOL PROPIONATE HYDROGEL

The objective of this research was to develop and evaluate a hydrogel formulation containing a combination of Luliconazole (an antifungal) and Clobetasol Propionate (a corticosteroid) for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Hydrogels were prepared using Carbomer 940 as the gelling agent. Pre-formulation studies, including FTIR and physical compatibility tests, confirmed the absence of drug-excipient interactions. Five formulations (F1–F5) were developed with varying concentrations of Carbomer 940. The optimized formulation (F2) exhibited excellent physical properties, including a pH of 6.90, spreadability of 5.35 cm, and superior extrudability. Drug content analysis showed high entrapment efficiency (100.69% for Luliconazole and 99.05% for Clobetasol Propionate). In vitro diffusion studies revealed a controlled release profile, with cumulative drug release reaching 96.19% for Luliconazole and 94.45% for Clobetasol Propionate over 8 hours. Stability studies for 45 days showed no significant changes in physical or chemical parameters, suggesting that the developed hydrogel is a stable and effective platform for the dual delivery of antifungal and anti-inflammatory agents.