Formulation and Evaluation of Voriconazole Microsphere Loaded Gel for the Treatment of Dermatophytosis

Abstract

Dermatophytosis (ringworm) is a common superficial fungal infection caused by dermatophytes such as Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton, affecting the skin, hair, and nails. Although Voriconazole is an effective broad-spectrum antifungal agent, conventional topical formulations often suffer from poor skin retention and limited drug penetration, resulting in reduced therapeutic efficacy. The present study aims to formulate and evaluate a Voriconazole microsphere-loaded gel for the treatment of dermatophytosis. Voriconazole-loaded microspheres will be prepared using the ionotropic gelation method employing sodium alginate and Eudragit RS100 as polymers, followed by incorporation into a Carbopol 934P gel base. The prepared microspheres will be evaluated for particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and surface morphology. The microsphere-loaded gel will be assessed for physicochemical properties such as appearance, pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content, and in vitro drug diffusion. A comparative evaluation with a plain Voriconazole gel will be performed to determine the enhancement in sustained drug release and antifungal performance. Stability studies will also be conducted on the optimized formulation. The developed microsphere-loaded gel is expected to provide controlled drug release, improved skin retention, enhanced antifungal efficacy, and better patient compliance, making it a promising topical delivery system for the effective management of dermatophytosis.