The aim of the present research work was to investigate the potential of emulgel in enhancing the topical delivery of ciclopirox olamine (CPO). Emulgel formulae of CPO were prepared using two types of gelling agents namely, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and Carbopol 934 (Cp 934). The influence of the type of the gelling agent and the concentration of both the oil phase and emulsifying agent on the drug release from the prepared emulgels was investigated using a 23 factorial design. The prepared emulgels were evaluated for their physical appearance, rheological behaviour, drug release, drug permeation, antifungal activity, and stability. Commercially available CPO topical cream (Batrafen�®) was used for comparison. All the prepared emulgels showed acceptable physical properties concerning colour, homogeneity, consistency, spreadability, and pH value. They also exhibited higher drug release, drug permeation, and antifungal activity than the CPO cream. It was found that the type of the gelling agent had the most pronounced effect on the drug release from the emulgels followed by the emulsifying agent concentration and finally the liquid paraffin concentration. The drug permeation from the selected emulgels was found to follow diffusion-controlled mechanism. Rheological studies revealed that the CPO emulgels exhibited a non newtonian thixotropic shear-thinning behaviour. Stability studies showed that the physical appearance, rheological properties, drug release, drug permeation, and antifungal activity in selected prepared emulgels remained unchanged upon storage for six months. As a general conclusion, it was suggested that the CPO emulgel formulation prepared with HPMC with the liquid paraffin and emulsifying agent concentration in their low level (EG2) was the formula of choice as it showed the highest drug release, drug permeation, and antifungal activity.
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