Newfangled Topical Film-Forming Solution for Facilitated Antifungal Therapy: Design, Development, Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation.

Luliconazole is a broad-spectrum topical antifungal agent that acts by altering the synthesis of fungi cell membranes. Literature suggests that the recurrence of fungal infection can be avoided by altering the pH of the site of infection. Studies have also suggested that fungi thrive by altering skin pH to be slightly acidic, i.e., pH 3-5. The current study is aimed to design, develop, characterize, and evaluate an alkaline pH-based antifungal spray solution for antifungal effects. Luliconazole was used as an antifungal agent and an alkaline spray was formulated for topical application by using Eudragit RS 100, propylene glycol (PG), water, sodium bicarbonate, and ethanol via solubilization method. Herein, sodium bicarbonate was used as an alkalizing agent. Based on DSC, FTIR, PXRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and rheological analysis outcomes, the drug (luliconazole) and polymer were found to be compatible. F-14 formulation containing 22% Eudragit RS 100 (ERS), 1.5% PG, and 0.25% sodium bicarbonate was optimized by adopting the quality by design approach by using design of experiment software. The viscosity, pH, drying time, volume of solution post spraying, and spray angle were, 14.99 ± 0.21 cp, 8 pH, 60 s, 0.25 mL ± 0.05 mL, and 80 ± 2, respectively. In vitro drug diffusion studies and in vitro antifungal trials against