Abstract:
Nystatin, an antifungal drug for mucosal infections has a large dosing frequency and is rapidly inactivated by acids. In order to increase drug stability and reduce dosing frequency and reduce dosing frequency and gastric irritation, formulation into inert lipid matrices as solid lipid microparticles may be utilized. The formulations were done from Shea butter extract using either Tween 20 or Tween 65. The mixture was homogenized in each case to enable the incorporation of drug into solid lipid microparticles. The properties of the microparticles were evaluated by determination of size, percentage recovery, encapsulation efficiency and drug release in simulated gastric fluid (without enzymes). The antimicrobial activities of the microparticles were then investigated by the agar-diffusion inhibition zone diameter method against Candida albicans, using pure nystatin dispersed in DMSO as a control. Micron-sized particles with a narrow size distribution were obtained. Though drug encapsulation efficiency and loading were very low, good activity was exhibited against the test organism, in vitro. The antimicrobial activity and release profile obtained with Batch A containing Tween 65 indicated that it could be used to formulate sustained release nystatin microparticles with good anti-candida activity.
