Development, Optimization and Evaluation of Imiquimod Loaded Microemulsion Based Gel for Management of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Leishmaniasis, a crucial worldwide health and worldwide problem, neglected tropical disease and includes a number of diseases in the old world and the new world. It is a vector-borne disorder caused by protozoan parasites of the Genus Leishmania. Pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, pentamidine and Paromomycin are currently available treatments for cutaneous leishmaniasis. But this medication is not up to satisfactory standards due to problem associate to efficacy, increasing drug resistance, adverse effects, high cost and need for hospitalization to complete the full dose of treatment. As an alternative treatment, imiquimod is novel immune response modifier which is recently approved by USFDA and useful in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis and external warts. There is only cream product available in market as a topical dosage for cutaneous leishmaniasis. So the main goal of research is development of microemulsion based gel system with imiquimod which possess good efficacy, improve therapeutic treatment, better stability and reduce irritability. Microemulsion having smaller size that easily penetrate through the skin and incorporate lipophilic drug. Therefore microemulsion based system selected and developed by water in oil type of aqueous titration method (Spontaneous emulsification) with oleic acid, Simulsol 1293 and PEG 400 as core component. Optimised microemulsion was transparent with blue tint and spherical globule with 27.5nm in size. Carbopol ultrez 20 used as a gelling agent for improving rheological behaviour of microemulsion and control release of drug. Gelling agent is directly introduced in microemulsion system and optimised microemulsion was analysed by its appearance, pH, drug release, viscosity, and texture. Optimised 1.5% microemulsion based gel of IMQ gives good results across the system.