Alternative Therapeutic Nanosponge approach for Treatment of Flesh-Eating Disease- Necrotizing Fasciitis

Abstract

Clindamycin is a semisynthetic lincosamide antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. Clindamycin Phosphate (CP) belongs to BCS class III that is high solubility, low permeability with a topical bioavailability of 4-5%. In the present study permeability is enhanced by targeted drug release formulation of topical Clindamycin Phosphate nanosponges were prepared by Emulsion solvent diffusion method using Ethyl cellulose as release retardant polymer and PVA as surfactant or emulsifier. Nanosponges were prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion method by changing drug polymer ratio (1:0.05, 1:0.1, 1:0.15) and process parameters were optimized using 32 full factorial central design. CP nanosponges were then incorporated into a hydrogel prepared using Carbopol 934. The drug loaded nanosponges were evaluated for physical appearance, drug content, entrapment efficiency, and particle size. Characterization of CP nanosponges were done by and Scanning Electron Microscopy for the formulation. In-vitro release study indicated that the release of CP varied according to the concentration of matrix forming polymer. The best standardized formulation G5 and G6 were further evaluated for microbiological studies. Microbial studies were done using staphylococcus aureus as the strain organism and the activity of the gel against the organism was evaluated by measuring the zone of inhibition. It was also found to be stable for 2 months during its stability studies. Thus, it was concluded that CP can be formulated as Nanosponge hydrogel that can release the drug up to 24hrs with increased permeability and targeted release. Therefore, Topical Clindamycin Phosphate nanosponges prepared are promising drug delivery for topical application as being more useful than conventional formulation therapy.