Background: Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) of fluconazole were prepared to improve permeability and thereby effective topical drug delivery. Materials and methods: NLCs were prepared and evaluated, and then the optimized NLC suspension was incorporated into a gel that was further evaluated for topical drug delivery. Results and discussion: F-2 NLC formulation was optimized based on results of particle size (161.3 ± 1.385 nm), polydispersity index (0.401), zeta potential (-33 ± 0.46), entrapment efficiency (82.26 ± 0.91%) and in vitro drug release (76.40 ± 0.21%). Ex vivo skin permeation studies showed flux of F-2 gel and the comparison marketed gel as 0.21 and 0.18 mg/cm2/h, respectively. The in vitro antifungal study revealed significantly better activity compared with the marketed gel. Conclusion: Fluconazole NLCs increase drug permeability and proved to be effective in topical drug delivery.
Keywords: fluconazole; gel; hot homogenization; nanostructured lipid carriers; topical delivery.