Enhanced stability and permeation potential of nanoemulsion containing sefsol-218 oil for topical delivery of amphotericin B

Aim: To characterize the enhanced stability and permeation potential of amphotericin B nanoemulsion comprising sefsol-218 oil at varying pH and temperature of aqueous continuous phase. Methodology: Several batches of amphotericin B loaded nanoemulsion were prepared and evaluated for their physical and chemical stability at different pH and temperature. Also, a comparative study of ex vivo drug permeation across the albino rat skin was investigated with commercial Fungisome (R) and drug solution at 37 degrees C for 24 h. The extent of drug penetrated through the rat skin was thereby evaluated using the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results and conclusions: The optimized nanoemulsion demonstrated the highest flux rate 17.85 +/- 0.5 mu g/cm(2)/h than drug solution (5.37 +/- 0.01 mg/cm(2)/h) and Fungisome (R) (7.97 +/- 0.01 mu g/cm(2)/h). Ex vivo drug penetration mechanism from the developed formulations at pH 6.8 and pH 7.4 of aqueous phase pH using the CLSM revealed enhanced penetration. Ex vivo drug penetration studies of developed formulation comprising of CLSM revealed enhanced penetration in aqueous phase at pH 6.8 and 7.4. The aggregation behavior of nanoemulsion at both the pH was found to be minimum and non-nephrotoxic. The stability of amphotericin B was obtained in terms of pH, optical density, globular size, polydispersity index and zeta potential value at different temperature for 90 days. The slowest drug degradation was observed in aqueous phase at pH 7.4 with shelf life 20.03-folds higher when stored at 4 degrees C (3.8 years) and 5-fold higher at 25 degrees C (0.951 years) than at 40 degrees C. The combined results suggested that nanoemulsion may hold an alternative for enhanced and sustained topical delivery system for amphotericin B.