The College of Pharmacy discussed the PhD dissertation entitled “Preparation and Evaluation of Caspofungin Ufasome Gel for Topical Fungal Infection: In vitro and In vivo Study” by the student Sumayah Abid Ahmed and the supervisor, Professor Dr. Nawal Ayash Rajab, at the Pharmaceutics Department.
The study aimed to develop caspofungin diacetate (CSP)-loaded ufasomes and introduce a new topical dosage form in the form of a transdermal gel, with the goal of improving patient adherence to treatment, providing sustained drug release, and reducing the side effects associated with Caspofungin.
The study included preparation of CSP-loaded ufasomes using the thin-film hydration method with various unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Several formulations were evaluated to select the optimal formulation based on physicochemical properties, drug release, skin penetration, and antifungal activity. The optimal formulation was then incorporated into Carbopol 934 to prepare several topical gel formulations, which were characterized in terms of appearance, pH, drug content, spreadability, rheological properties, viscosity, and in vitro drug release. Additionally, the structural properties and transdermal drug delivery characteristics were investigated using various microscopic and imaging techniques. Moreover, antifungal efficacy, skin irritation, histopathological, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and stability studies were conducted to confirm the safety, efficacy, and stability of the improved gel formulation.
The results showed that loading CSP into ufasome vesicles and formulating it as a topical gel significantly improved transdermal drug delivery compared to the free form. In addition, the improved formulation enhanced drug penetration into the dermal layers and provided sustained release, maintaining a stable therapeutic concentration at the site of infection. Furthermore, tests demonstrated a marked increase in antifungal activity due to enhanced topical bioavailability, and safety studies confirmed that the gel was well-tolerated and did not cause significant skin irritation, thus confirming the potential of this formulation as a promising topical treatment option for fungal skin infections.
The study recommended that future research should focus on investigating additional types of unsaturated fatty acids to enhance drug delivery, conducting extended in vivo or clinical studies to confirm efficacy and safety.
