Development of miconazole nitrate containing chitosan microcapsules and their anti-Aspergillus niger activity

• Published in: Journal of microencapsulation Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 505 - 510
• Main Authors: Yuen, C. W. M., Kan, C. W., Cheuk, K. L., Cheung, H. C., Cheng, S. Y., Yip, J., Lam, P. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Informa UK, Ltd 01-08-2012; Taylor & Francis; Informa
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - administration & dosage; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Aspergillosis - drug therapy; Aspergillus niger - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Capsules - chemistry; cell culture; Cell Line; chitosan; Chitosan - chemistry; controlled release; Drug Compounding; General pharmacology; Humans; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Medical sciences; Miconazole - administration & dosage; Miconazole - pharmacology; microencapsulation; Particle Size; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Imidazole derivatives; Cell culture; Pharmaceutical technology; Controlled release form; Control release polymer; Microcapsule; In vitro; Fungi; Antifungal agent; controlled release; Aspergillus niger; Dosage form; Microparticle; Oside polymer; Microencapsulation; Fungi Imperfecti; Chitosan; Miconazole
• ISSN: 0265-2048; 1464-5246
• DOI: 10.3109/02652048.2011.642017

In this article, we report the development of chitosan/miconazole nitrate microcapsules. Four miconazole nitrate ratios including 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg were performed in the chitosan-based microencapsulation system. Chitosan microcapsules with the drug input of 25 mg showed the highest encapsulation efficiency (52.47%) and acceptable mean particle size (5.65 µm) when compared with those of 12.5, 50 and 100 mg. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic spectrum proved the entrapment of miconazole nitrate into chitosan microcapsules. The antifungal result demonstrated that microcapsules containing 75 µg miconazole nitrate possessed comparable anti-Aspergillus niger activity as the commercial ointment. The growth inhibition of miconazole nitrate containing chitosan microcapsules towards human skin keratinocytes was found to be dose dependent. A total of 75 µg of miconazole nitrate containing microcapsules revealed about 25% of growth inhibition while that of 150 µg showed approximately 70% of growth inhibition. Special monitoring should be taken if a higher dose of miconazole nitrate was used to develop the microcapsules.