Characterization of Oxiconazole Nanoemulsion Using Box-Behnken Design and Transformation of the Selected Nanoemulsion into Nanoemulgel

Background: The present work covers the preparation and investigation of Nanoemulsion (NE) based hydrogel i.e., Nanoemulgel (NEG) of an Antifungal drug Oxiconazole delivered topically. Materials and Methods: High-speed homogenization was used to prepare the NE using Clove oil, Tween 80 and Propylene Glycol as oil phase, surfactant and co-surfactant respectively. Ternary phase diagrams are constructed to determine the quantity of ingredients used to formulate nanoemulsion. The prepared NEs were thus assessed for parameters such as pH, refractive index, electric conductivity, viscosity, spreadability, ploy dispersity index, Zeta potential etc., The NE possessing the best characteristics is optimized and converted into a Nanoemulgel (NEG) by distributing the NE into a suitable gel base such as Carbopol 934P and Guar gum. The gel base was prepared by distributing 2%, 3% and 4% of the gelling agent into water and kept aside overnight. The NEG's formulated are thus evaluated for physicochemical characteristics, in vitro diffusion, ex vivo permeation studies and anti-fungal studies. Results: FO1 made up of 2% Carboplol 934P released 97.38 +/- 0.64% of the drug in 12 hr is optimized as better formulation based on physico-chemical and drug release characteristics.