Design Development and Characterization of Microemulsion Based Spray for Topical Delivery of Luliconazole

Abstract

Luliconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent widely used in the treatment of dermatophytic infections; however, its clinical effectiveness is often limited due to poor aqueous solubility and restricted skin penetration. The present study aims to design, develop, and characterize a microemulsion-based topical spray system for enhanced dermal delivery of luliconazole. Microemulsions were formulated using suitable oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants based on solubility studies, followed by construction of pseudo-ternary phase diagrams to identify the microemulsion region. The optimized formulation was converted into a sprayable system and evaluated for physicochemical properties such as globule size, zeta potential, pH, viscosity, drug content, and spray characteristics. In vitro drug release and ex vivo skin permeation studies were performed to assess the efficiency of drug delivery. Stability studies were conducted under different storage conditions to ensure formulation robustness. The developed microemulsion-based spray demonstrated improved drug solubilization, enhanced skin permeation, and uniform spray distribution compared to conventional formulations. The study concludes that microemulsion-based topical spray systems can serve as a promising approach for improving the therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance of luliconazole in the treatment of fungal skin infections.