Luliconazole-Loaded Niosomal Gel Formulation Strategies And Optimization And Evaluation Parameter
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i3.773Keywords:
Niosomes, Niosomal gel, Topical drug delivery, Antifungal therapy, Transdermal delivery, Controlled release, Dermatophytosis treatment.Abstract
The objective of this review is to comprehensively evaluate recent advances in the formulation and characterization of luliconazole-loaded niosomes for topical antifungal therapy. The review highlights formulation strategies, critical material attributes, and performance outcomes, with a focus on improving drug solubility, skin permeability, and therapeutic efficacy.
Significance of Review : Though highly effective against dermatophytes and Candida species, suffers from poor aqueous solubility and limited dermal retention, which reduce its therapeutic performance in conventional topical dosage forms. Niosomal drug delivery systems offer a promising alternative by enhancing drug stability, penetration, and controlled release. This review bridges the gap between lab-scale research and industrial application, providing insight into scalable, patient-compliant delivery platforms for antifungal therapy.
Key Findings : Niosomes consisting of non-ionic surfactants (e.g., Span 60, Tween 60) and cholesterol have demonstrated high drug entrapment efficiency (>80%) and nanoscale vesicle size (100-200 nm).- Luliconazole-loaded niosomes provide sustained drug release (up to 24 hours) and significantly improved antifungal activity compared to conventional formulations.- Characterization techniques including DLS, TEM, FTIR, and in vitro permeation studies are critical to evaluate the vesicle integrity, drug-excipient interactions, and skin delivery performance.- Incorporation into gel bases (niosomal gel) further improves patient acceptability and bioadhesion, making the system suitable for commercial topical applications.
Conclusion: Loaded niosomes are a potentially nanocarrier system for the effective handling of superficial fungal infections. The reviewed studies confirm their potential to enhance topical bioavailability, prolong drug release, and improve therapeutic outcomes. Further research should focus on in vivo evaluations, stability profiling, and scale-up processes to facilitate clinical translation and commercial development.
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