title: Physically cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol for the topical delivery of fluconazole.
abstract: The aim of this study was to develop fluconazole in an ultrapure polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel able to deliver the drug in a sustained release pattern for local treatment of skin fungal infections. The topical fluconazole hydrogels were prepared using PVA hydrogels physically cross-linked by freeze-thaw technique. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was added as a hydrophilic excipient as a release enhancer of fluconazole. The effects of PVA molecular weight, PEG molecular weight, and PEG concentration were studied using a 2 x 4 x 2 factorially designed experiment. The selected fluconazole hydrogel proved to be physically stable over a period of 6 months and to be effective in the topical treatment of cutaneous candidiasis. Therefore, it could be concluded that the formula composed of 10% PVA 205000 and 1.5% PEG 4000 and 2% fluconazole and prepared by three cycles of freezing, and thawing is very promising in the local treatment of skin fungal infection as an alternative to the systemic use of fluconazole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Organization of African Unity, St. Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt. mona_abdelmottaleb@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mona M A
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abdel-Mottaleb
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Mortada
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Shamy
authors.forename: G A S
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Awad
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002179:Candidiasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D005615:Freezing; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005079:Excipients; D020100:Hydrogels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D015725:Fluconazole; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol