FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GLYCEROSOMAL OINTMENT FORMULATION CONTAINING MUPIROCIN FOR IMPROVING TOPICAL DELIVERY
Bhakti Basare*, Vinod Dhote, Kanika Dhote, Surendra Jain
ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate a mupirocin-loaded glycerosomal ointment to enhance topical delivery and therapeutic efficacy in the management of bacterial skin infections. Mupirocin, a hydrophobic antibiotic active against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, exhibits poor skin permeation and limited retention in conventional ointments. To overcome these drawbacks, glycerosomes—a novel class of lipid vesicles containing phospholipids, cholesterol, and glycerol—were employed. Mupirocin-loaded glycerosomes were prepared by the thin-film hydration method and optimized for particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. The optimized formulation (F4) displayed a particle size range of 151–162 nm, zeta potential between –9.7 and –15.8 mV, and the highest entrapment efficiency (93.86%). SEM confirmed spherical, porous vesicles. Incorporation into an ointment base produced a smooth, uniform formulation with suitable pH (6.7), viscosity (2035 ± 0.43 cps), and spreadability (16.79 gm·cm/sec). The optimized ointment was non-irritant, showed sustained drug release (97.97% over 14 h), and exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Stability studies over 90 days confirmed minimal variations in pH and viscosity, indicating long-term formulation stability.
Keywords: Mupirocin, Glycerosomes, Topical drug delivery, Ointment formulation, Thin-film hydration.
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