DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NYSTATIN ETHOSOMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate Nystatin-loaded ethosomes for improved topical drug delivery and sustained drug release. Nystatin is an antifungal drug used in the treatment of fungal infections. Ethosomes are lipid-based vesicular carriers containing phospholipids and alcohol, which may enhance drug delivery through the skin. In the present investigation, eight different ethosomal formulations (F1–F8) were prepared by the cold method using varying concentrations of phosphatidylcholine. The prepared formulations were characterized for particle size, zeta potential, surface morphology, entrapment efficiency, in-vitro drug release, release kinetics, and stability. The particle size ranged from 236 to 301 nm, while the zeta potential ranged from -22 to -30 mV. Among all formulations, F7 exhibited the smallest particle size of 236 nm, the highest negative zeta potential of -30 mV, and maximum entrapment efficiency of 92.20%. In-vitro drug release studies conducted over eight hours showed that F7 achieved the highest cumulative drug release of 95.22%. Drug release kinetic analysis demonstrated the best fit with the zero-order model (R² = 0.983), followed by the Higuchi model (R² = 0.963). Stability studies conducted for three months under different storage conditions showed that the optimized formulation maintained drug release above the specified limit of 85%. The study concluded that formulation F7 was the optimized Nystatin-loaded ethosomal formulation based on its physicochemical characteristics, high entrapment efficiency, and satisfactory drug release profile. Nystatin-loaded ethosomes may represent a promising approach for topical antifungal drug delivery. Keywords: Nystatin, Ethosomes, Phosphatidylcholine, Topical drug delivery, Entrapment efficiency, Particle size, Sustained drug release.