DESIGN, PREPARE AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF KETOCONAZOLE ETHOSOMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

The present study focused on the design and evaluation of Ketoconazole-loaded ethosomes for enhanced dermal delivery. Ethosomal formulations (F1–F4) were successfully prepared and evaluated for various physicochemical parameters, including particle size, zeta potential, surface morphology, and in vitro drug release. The particle size analysis revealed that all formulations were within the nanometric range, with sizes varying from 289 nm to 369 nm. Among the formulations, F3 exhibited the smallest particle size (289 nm), indicating its potential for enhanced skin penetration. Zeta potential values ranged from −22 mV to −27 mV, demonstrating adequate electrostatic stability of the ethosomal vesicles. SEM analysis confirmed the formation of spherical, smooth, and uniformly distributed vesicles without significant aggregation. The in vitro drug release study showed a sustained and controlled release pattern for all formulations over an 8-hour period. The cumulative drug release ranged from 95.35% to 98.48%, with formulation F3 exhibiting the highest drug release (98.48%). The superior performance of F3 may be attributed to its optimized composition, smaller vesicle size, and efficient drug encapsulation, which facilitated enhanced drug diffusion.The overall evaluation results demonstrated that ethosomal vesicles effectively encapsulated Ketoconazole and provided sustained drug release, indicating their suitability as carriers for topical antifungal therapy. Therefore, the developed Ketoconazole-loaded ethosomal system represents a promising approach for enhancing dermal delivery and antifungal efficacy. The study concludes that ethosomes can serve as an effective vesicular carrier for topical administration of Ketoconazole, potentially improving treatment outcomes in fungal skin infections while reducing dosing frequency and improving patient compliance.

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