ABSTRACT:
The objective of the present investigation was to prepare and characterize a vagino-adhesive fluconazole gel and to find out suitable polymer systems that may efficiently fulfill the need. Different mucoadhesive polymers including HPMC E 4000 (4-6% w/w), Carbopol 934(0.5-1.5% w/w), Carbopol 940 (0.5-1.5% w/w), Guar gum (3-5% w/w) and Na CMC (3-5% w/w), were used to develop gel along with fluconazole (1% w/w). The Vagino-adhesive properties of the gels were assessed using sheep vaginal mucosa under pH 4.5 citrate-phosphate buffer at 37°C. In-vitro drug release profiles of the gels were determined in pH 4.5 citrate-phosphate buffer. Other important evaluation parameters like viscosity, pH, bioadhesion time, Spreadibility, Drug content, in-vitro drug release study were also performed to assess the prepared formulations. Results indicated that, formulation fabricated with carbopol 934, carbopol 940 and HPMC E 4000 are the polymers shown better performance as compare to others. Among the several formulations, F3, F6andF7 found more efficient.