<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Fluconazole (FLZ) is the most widely used antifungal agent for treating cutaneous candidiasis. Although oral FLZ has been proved to be effective, the incidence of side effects necessitates the development of an effective formulation that could surpass the pitfalls associated with systemic availability. Accordingly, this research aimed at developing a self-assembled mixed micelles topical delivery system to enhance the topical delivery of the drug. Self-assembled mixed micelles were developed using D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate and phospholipids and optimized using Box-Behnken design. The optimized formulation with minimized size was then tested <italic>in vivo</italic> for the antifungal activity against <italic>C. albicans</italic> in immunocompromised mice. Treatment with the optimized formulation led to decreased peripheral erythema as well as lesions due to fungal infection in comparison to raw FLZ loaded gel. Therefore, the developed formulation was found to be a promising vehicle for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis.</p>
</abstract>

Fluconazole (FLZ) is the most widely used antifungal agent for treating cutaneous candidiasis. Although oral FLZ has been proved to be effective, the incidence of side effects necessitates the development of an effective formulation that could surpass the pitfalls associated with systemic availability. Accordingly, this research aimed at developing a self-assembled mixed micelles topical delivery system to enhance the topical delivery of the drug. Self-assembled mixed micelles were developed using D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate and phospholipids and optimized using Box-Behnken design. The optimized formulation with minimized size was then tested in vivo for the antifungal activity against C. albicans in immunocompromised mice. Treatment with the optimized formulation led to decreased peripheral erythema as well as lesions due to fungal infection in comparison to raw FLZ loaded gel. Therefore, the developed formulation was found to be a promising vehicle for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis.

Optimized D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate/phospholipid self-assembled mixed micelles: A promising lipid-based nanoplatform for augmenting the antifungal activity of fluconazole

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy

Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy

Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy

Acta Pharmaceutica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fluconazole (FLZ) is the most widely used antifungal agent for treating cutaneous candidiasis. Although oral FLZ has been proved to be effective, the incidence...

Optimized D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate/phospholipid self-assembled mixed micelles: A promising lipid-based nanoplatform for augmenting the antifungal activity of fluconazole

Published Online: Oct 18, 2022

Page range: 547 - 560

Accepted: Dec 27, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2022-0028

Keywords
fluconazole, fungal infections, self-assembled mixed micelles, D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, phospholipids

© 2022 Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Optimized D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate/phospholipid self-assembled mixed micelles: A promising lipid-based nanoplatform for augmenting the antifungal activity of fluconazole

Published Online: Oct 18, 2022

Page range: 547 - 560

Accepted: Dec 27, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2022-0028

Keywordsfluconazole, fungal infections, self-assembled mixed micelles, D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, phospholipids

© 2022 Shaimaa M. Badr-Eldin et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
fluconazole, fungal infections, self-assembled mixed micelles, D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, phospholipids