title: Investigation of ethyl cellulose microsponge gel for topical delivery of eberconazole nitrate for fungal therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to investigate ethyl cellulose microsponges as topical carriers for the controlled release and cutaneous drug deposition of eberconazole nitrate (EB).
  
  
  METHODS
  EB microsponges were prepared using the quasiemulsion solvent diffusion method. The effect of formulation variables (drug:polymer ratio, internal phase volume and amount of emulsifier) and process variables (stirring time and stirring speed) on the physical characteristics of microsponges were investigated. The optimized microsponges were dispersed into a hydrogel and evaluated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spherical and porous EB microsponge particles were obtained. The optimized microsponges possessed particle size, drug content and entrapment efficiency of 24.5 µm, 43.31% and 91.44%, respectively. Microsponge-loaded gels demonstrated controlled release, nonirritancy to rat skin and antifungal activity. An in vivo skin deposition study demonstrated fourfold higher retention in the stratum corneum layer as compared with commercial cream.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Developed ethyl cellulose microsponges could be potential pharmaceutical topical carriers of EB in antifungal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Poona College of Pharmacy, Erandwane, Pune 411038, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Chellampillai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bothiraja
authors.forename: Amol D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gholap
authors.forename: Karimunnisa S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.forename: Atmaram P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Pawar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003508:Cycloheptanes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004058:Diffusion; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005782:Gels; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003508:Cycloheptanes; D005782:Gels; D007093:Imidazoles; C013517:ethyl cellulose; D002482:Cellulose; C118963:eberconazole