Preparation and Optimization of Topical Formulatons of Liquid Crystals of Clotrimazole for Increasing Permeability through Skin

The aim of this work was to prepare liquid crystals of an antifungal drug clotrimazole to improve bioavailability and permeability of poorly water-soluble drug through the skin as generally shown by the liquid crystalline form of the drug. We have also prepared and optimized topical formulation of prepared liquid crystals of drug so as to produce a sustainable release from the formulation and thus effective antifungal therapy. 6 Topical formulations of prepared cubosomal liquid crystals of clotrimazole were formulated using different polymers (Carbopol 934, Carbopol 940 and HPMC) in different proportions. Optimized formulations were evaluated for various parameters like particle shape and size, drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release profile etc. Comparative release rates of all six cubosomal gel formulations with that of marketed preparation (candid) reveal that cubosomal liquid crystalline dispersions of clotrimazole show better release rates in comparison to normal crystalline state of drug clotrimazole. Use of different polymers in gel formulation produces significant effects on release rates from the gel. Even different concentrations of a polymer have a considerable effect on release rates from a gel formulation which is reciprocal in terms of concentration i.e., when concentration of polymer is increased the release rate retards. Among all cubosomal gel formulations, F2 formulation containing 0.2 %w/v Carbopol 934 showed sustained release rate which was 66.513±2.225 % at the end of 24 hrs in comparison to 96.73±0.589 % for marketed preparation.