Formulation, In Vitro Release and Iontophoresis Study of Fluconazole Hydrogel

Transdermal delivery of an antifungal drug Fluconazole in the form of hydrogels was formulated using polymers Carbopol 934 and Carbopol 940. The hydrogels were evaluated for various physicochemical parameters such as pH, viscosity, drug content, spreadibility and in-vivo skin irritation test. In-vitro drug release and permeation was studied using cellophane membrane and hairless rat skin, respectively using Franz Diffusion cell. The optimized formulations were studied for iontophoresis and for short term stability. Formulations showed drug content, spreadability and pH in the range of 95.32–99.56%, 13.32–15.16 g.cm/s and 7.2 to 7.5, respectively. From the in-vitro drug release study of hydrogels it can be concluded that drug:carbopol 934:carbopol 940 in the ratio 1:0.5:0.5 gave maximum release suggesting its usefulness as hydrogel formulation. The optimized hydrogel formulation showed complete absence of irritation and found to be stable for 45 days.