Formulation And Characterization Of Polymeric Emulgel Of Flucytosine For Effective Topical Fungal Treatment

Abstract

The present study aimed to develop and characterize a polymeric emulgel formulation of Flucytosine for effective topical treatment of fungal infections, overcoming the limitations associated with conventional formulations. Flucytosine-loaded emulsions were prepared using cholesterol as the oil phase and incorporated into a Carbopol 934P gel base to obtain the emulgel. The formulations were evaluated for physical appearance, washability, spreadability, extrudability, viscosity, pH, drug content, in-vitro drug release, release kinetics, and antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans. All formulations exhibited good homogeneity, acceptable pH (6.15–6.80), excellent washability, and shear-thinning behavior. Drug content ranged from 95.58 ± 0.74% to 99.85 ± 0.15%, indicating uniform drug distribution. In-vitro release studies demonstrated a sustained release pattern, with the optimized formulation (F3) showing 86.53% cumulative release over 240 minutes. Kinetic modeling suggested a first-order release profile with a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. Antimicrobial studies confirmed potent antifungal activity of the optimized formulation, with the highest inhibition zone of 24.65 ± 0.86 mm at 100 mg/ml. These findings suggest that Flucytosine-loaded polymeric emulgel is a promising topical delivery system for effective management of fungal infections, offering improved patient compliance and therapeutic efficacy.