New Formulations Loading Caspofungin for Topical Therapy of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.
Noelia Pérez-GonzálezNuria Bozal-de FebrerAna-Cristina Calpena-CampmanyAnna Nardi-RicartMaría J Rodríguez LagunasJosé A Morales-MolinaJosé Luis SorianoFrancisco Fernández-CamposBeatriz C NaverosPublished in: Gels (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) poses a significant problem worldwide affecting women from all strata of society. It is manifested as changes in vaginal discharge, irritation, itching and stinging sensation. Although most patients respond to topical treatment, there is still a need for increase the therapeutic arsenal due to resistances to anti-infective agents. The present study was designed to develop and characterize three hydrogels of chitosan (CTS), Poloxamer 407 (P407) and a combination of both containing 2% caspofungin (CSP) for the vaginal treatment of VVC. CTS was used by its mucoadhesive properties and P407 was used to exploit potential advantages related to increasing drug concentration in order to provide a local effect. The formulations were physically, mechanically and morphologically characterized. Drug release profile and ex vivo vaginal permeation studies were performed. Antifungal efficacy against different strains of Candida spp. was also evaluated. In addition, tolerance of formulations was studied by histological analysis. Results confirmed that CSP hydrogels could be proposed as promising candidates for the treatment of VVC.
Keyphrases
- drug release
- drug delivery
- candida albicans
- wound healing
- end stage renal disease
- chronic kidney disease
- stem cells
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- escherichia coli
- metabolic syndrome
- pseudomonas aeruginosa
- hyaluronic acid
- combination therapy
- climate change
- cystic fibrosis
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- mesenchymal stem cells
- pregnant women
- skeletal muscle
- insulin resistance
- adipose tissue
- replacement therapy
- extracellular matrix