Development and Characterization of Clarithromycin Emulgel for topical delivery

Topical drug delivery has been used for centuries for the treatment of local skin disorders. Emulgel have emerged as one of the most interesting topical delivery system as it has dual control release system i.e. gel and emulsion. One side the topical applications of the drug offers the potential advantages of delivering the drug directly to the site of action and secondly delivering the drug for extended period of time at the effected site. The major objective behind this formulation is enhancing the topical delivery of hydrophobic drug (Clarithromycin) by formulating Clarithromycin Emulgel using high molecular weight water soluble polymer of Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M), Carbopol 940, Carbopol 934. That possesses very high viscosity, transparency, film forming properties at low concentration and reported to be useful in formation of gel with an objective to increase transparency and spreadability. Oleic acid is used as permeation enhancer. The prepared Emulgel were evaluated for their physical appearance, pH determination, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, in vitro drug release, ex vivo drug release, anti microbial activity and stability. All the prepared Emulgel showed acceptable physical properties, homogeneity, consistency, spreadability, viscosity and pH value. The best formulation F1 and F4 showed comparable antimicrobial activity when they compared with marketed Azithromycin gel. The in vitro release rate of Emulgel was evaluated using Diffusion cell containing dialysis membrane with phosphate buffer pH 5.5 as the receptor medium. The release rate of the F1 Formulation was found to follow Higuchi model. The Emulgel were found to be stable with respect to physical appearance, pH, rheological properties and drug content at all temperature and conditions for three month.

Author(s): Joshi Baibhav, Singh Gurpreet , Rana AC, Saini Seema

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