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ACTA Pharmaceutica Sciencia
2026 , Vol 64 , Num 2
Development and characterization of fluconazole-loaded spanethosomal gel for topical antifungal therapy
1 University of Misan, College of Pharmacy, Misan, Iraq2 University of Baghdad, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, Baghdad, Iraq
DOI : 10.23893/1307-2080.APS64010 Viewed : 65 - Downloaded : 37 Fluconazole (FLC) is a commonly used antifungal drug with broad-spectrum activity. However, its traditional topical application is often hindered by limited skin penetration and low drug retention, which can reduce therapeutic effectiveness. This study aimed to develop an FLC-loaded spanethosomal gel capable of sustaining drug release and improving antifungal activity while maintaining safety. FLC-loaded spanethosomes dispersions were prepared using the ethanol injection method with Span 60 and sodium deoxycholate. These vesicles were incorporated into a gel base formulated with either xanthan gum or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the gelling agent. The prepared gels were evaluated for their physical characteristics, pH, drug content, viscosity and in vitro release profile. In addition, the optimized FLC-spanethosomal gel was examined for skin irritation potential and antifungal performance. The optimized formulation, containing 2% xanthan gum, demonstrated desirable properties, including high spreadability (5.17 ± 1.26 g·cm/sec), appropriate viscosity, acceptable drug content (95.83 ± 1.04%), and a pH of 5.8 ± 0.1. In vivo skin irritation studies confirmed that the formulation was non-irritant. The release profile showed sustained drug release, reaching 88.25 ± 2.21% after 9 hours. FTIR analysis indicated no significant interaction between FLC and the polymers in the gel base. Antifungal testing against Candida albicans showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in activity compared with both the plain FLC gel and control formulations. Overall, the findings emphasize the possible use of spanethosomal gel systems as an effective approach for topical antifungal therapy. Keywords : fluconazole, spanethosomes, gel, antifungal activity, spreadability