Abstract
The main objective of the present study was to explore different types of surfactants for formulating itraconazole (ITZ) loaded niosomes to improve its skin penetration. These surfactants vary in number and nature of the alkyl chains. The prepared niosomes were characterized in terms of particle size, surface charge, entrapment efficiency, skin penetration and antifungal activity. Brij (BR) 35 niosomes exhibited largest size, while the smallest size was observed in case of Spans and Tweens with tri-alkyl chains. The entrapment efficiency (EE%) of niosomes made of unsaturated alkyl chain surfactants was less than that one with saturated alkyl chain. Furthermore, tri-alkyl chains of niosomes showed higher EE% compared to mono-alkyl chain. Regarding skin permeation, Spans niosomes showed enhancement permeation of 117 compared to ITZ solution; however, it was less in magnitude than that of Tweens. The niosomes made of tri-alkyl chains tend to accumulate more in stratum corneum (SC) and stripped skin with low amount of ITZ in receptor fluid. The highest amount of ITZ reached receptor fluid was observed in Tween 80 and 60 niosomes. The antifungal activity of ITZ was not compromised when 117 being loaded into niosomes. It could be concluded that niosomes drug delivery systems are promising carriers for cutaneous targeted delivery of ITZ. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.