FORMULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LIPID-BASED VESICLE SYSTEM CONTAINING SUCONAZOLE FOR TOPICAL DISEASE

The present study was undertaken to formulate and evaluate a Sulconazole-loaded liposomal cream for improved topical antifungal therapy. Sulconazole-loaded liposomes were prepared by the thin-film hydration method using varying concentrations of soya lecithin and cholesterol, followed by incorporation of the optimized liposomes into a cream base. Preformulation studies confirmed the physicochemical suitability of Sulconazole, including a melting point of 132°C and λmax of 235.0 nm. Among the developed formulations, F2 showed the optimum characteristics, with a particle size of 144.31 nm, zeta potential of −57.8 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 94.83%. SEM analysis revealed predominantly spherical, smooth, and non-aggregated vesicles. The optimized liposomal cream exhibited satisfactory physical properties, including a pH of 6.8, viscosity of 3562 cps, and spreadability of 12.56 g·cm/s. In vitro drug release demonstrated sustained release, with approximately 98% Sulconazole released over 13 h. The release profile showed the best fit to the Higuchi model (R² = 0.9766), indicating predominantly diffusioncontrolled release. Antifungal evaluation against Candida albicans showed a greater zone of inhibition for the liposomal cream (16 mm) compared with the pure drug solution (11 mm). Overall, the developed Sulconazole-loaded liposomal cream demonstrated high drug entrapment, nanosized vesicles, sustained drug release, and enhanced antifungal activity, indicating its potential as an effective topical delivery system for superficial fungal infections.