Available topical antifungal agents face some limitations, to counter this novel, self-adhesive, flexible, thin and\r\ntransparent polymeric film-topical antifungal film for the topical delivery of antifungal agents was developed. Clotrimazole was\r\nselected as model antifungal agent. TAF consists of a very thin backing membrane of polyvinyl alcohol above which drug\r\ncontaining polymer layer was developed by solvent evaporation method. Polyvinyl pyrolidone K-30 a matrix forming polymer\r\nand propylene glycol (plasticizer) were used for the formulation of film. Betamethasone dipropionate a corticosteroid use of\r\nwhich in the treatment of fungal infection may lead to suppression of host inflammation, pain/itching associated with some\r\nfungal infection was also added in the film. Eucalyptus oil itself possessing antifungal activity was selected as permeation\r\nenhancer hence a synergistic antifungal activity was expected which was confirmed with the help of in-vitro antifungal test.\r\nEvaluation parameters like compatibility studies, physical appearance, thickness and weight variation, moisture uptake study,\r\ndrug content, tensile and adhesive strength was carried out. Adhesive strength and in-vitro drug release of both the drugs were\r\ndepended on optimum concentration of PVP K-30 and propylene glycol. FTIR spectra of final formulation reveal the presence of\r\nmajor spectra of eucalyptus oil in the fingerprint region. Drug release 88.24�±1.59% and 87.91�±1.72% for clotrimazole and\r\nbetamethasone dipropionate respectively, upto 10 h was established. SEM study depicts a very smooth area of film. Finally, no\r\nredness, inflammation or eschar formation during the observation period of 120 h/5 days was observed in the skin-irritancy test.
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