Thermal analysis in evaluation of the radiochemical stability of some fungicidal drugs

Four azole derivatives showing antimycotic activity (Miconazole, Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole, Fluconazole) in solid phase were exposed to beta irradiation at the dose of 20-200 kGy and then alterations in the physicochemical properties of the above derivatives were studied using the methods: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. It was found that the compounds irradiated with sterilising doses (20-50 kGy) showed no significant alterations in their physicochemical properties, while application of doses >50 kGy resulted in small changes in the X-ray diffraction patterns and in the course of DSC curves, including a decrease in the melting points and enthalpy of the process. For Miconazole and Fluconazole, a linear and relatively strong correlation was found (from r =0.9782 to r =0.9003) between the size of the dose of irradiation and the decrease in the melting point and enthalpy value. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Magnetic Property of a Novel Cu(Ⅱ)-Fluconazole-azide Complex

The title compound formulated as Cu2(C13H11N6OF2)(N3)3CH3OH was synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis,IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.In the structure of the complex,the deprotonated fluconazole and azide anion link two copper centers to construct a binuclear SBU and the azide anion exhibits a μ1,1-coordination mode.Each triazole group of fluconazole links two SBUs and the compound exhibits a chain-like architecture with strong antiferromagnetism.     

Extractive Spectrophotometric Determination of Fluconazole by Ion-pair Complex Formation with Bromocresol Green

An extraction-spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of fluconazole was described. Fluconazole was effectively extracted as a 1 ： 1 ion-pair complex with bromocresole green （BCG） at pH 3.0 into chloroform, followed by spectrophotometric determination at 420 nm. Beer＇s law was obeyed over the range of 4-50 μg.mL^-1 of fluconazole with a detection limit of 3.7 μg.mL^-1 . The method is simple, rapid and sensitive. The procedure was applied to the determination of fluconazole in pharmaceutical preparations as well as its recovery from a blood serum sample.     

Novasomes as Nano-Vesicular Carriers to Enhance Topical Delivery of Fluconazole: A New Approach to Treat Fungal Infections

The occurrence of fungal infections has increased over the past two decades. It is observed that superficial fungal infections are treated by conventional dosage forms, which are incapable of treating deep infections due to the barrier activity possessed by the stratum corneum of the skin. This is why the need for a topical preparation with advanced penetration techniques has arisen. This research aimed to encapsulate fluconazole (FLZ) in a novasome in order to improve the topical delivery. The novasomes were prepared using the ethanol injection technique and characterized for percent entrapment efficiency (EE), particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), drug release, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and antifungal activity. The FN7 formulation with 94.45% EE, 110 nm PS and −24 ZP proved to be the best formulation. The FN7 formulation showed a 96% release of FLZ in 8 h. FTIR showed the compatibility of FLZ with excipients and DSC studies confirmed the thermal stability of FLZ in the developed formulation. The FN7 formulation showed superior inhibition of the growth of Candida albicans compared to the FLZ suspension using a resazurin reduction assay, suggesting high efficacy in inhibiting fungal growth.     

Antifungal Activity of Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oil against Candida albicans: Time-Kill Study on Pediatric Sputum Isolates

The aim of our study was to determine the susceptibility of 15 Candida albicans sputum isolates on fluconazole and caspofungin, as well as the antifungal potential of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil (LAEO). The commercial LAEO was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antifungal activity was evaluated using EUCAST protocol. A killing assay was performed to evaluate kinetics of 2% LAEO within 30 min treatment. LAEO with major constituents’ linalool (33.4%) and linalyl acetate (30.5%) effective inhibited grows of C. albicans in concentration range 0.5–2%. Fluconazole activity was noted in 67% of the isolates with MICs in range 0.06–1 µg/mL. Surprisingly, 40% of isolates were non-wild-type (non-WT), while MICs for WT ranged between 0.125–0.25 µg/mL. There were no significant differences in the LAEO MICs among fluconazole-resistant and fluconazole-susceptible sputum strains (p = 0.31) and neither among caspofungin non-WT and WT isolates (p = 0.79). The 2% LAEO rapidly achieved 50% growth reduction in all tested strains between 0.2 and 3.5 min. Within 30 min, the same LAEO concentration exhibited a 99.9% reduction in 27% isolates. This study demonstrated that 2% solution of LAEO showed a significant antifungal activity which is equally effective against fluconazole and caspofungin susceptible and less-susceptible strains.