A novel ketoconazole bioadhesive effervescent tablet for vaginal delivery: Design, in vitro and ‘in vivo’ evaluation

Bioadhesive tablet formulations of ketoconazole for vaginal delivery were studied. Carbomer (Carbopol 974P, Carbopol 934P), hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) were used as candidate bioadhesive polymers. Effervescent was incorporated into the formulations as a disintegration agent. The swelling behavior and bioadhesive strength of the drug-free tablets were investigated. Carbopol 934P was selected as biopolymer in combination with HPMC or HPC at different ratios to develop five drug-loaded formulations. The swellings, tackiness and in vitro release were studied on the tablets. A good sustained effect and a moderate bioadhesion were obtained with the tablets. The formulation containing 100 mg of effervescent, with the Carbopol 934P:HPC ratio of 1:9, seemed to be the optimum one for the tablet. In vivo drug residence tests were carried out by administering the preferred formulation to female rats. The results showed that the drug remaining followed a one-order model. Even after 24 h of administration in vagina of rats, 17% of the original employed drug was retained on the vaginal tissue. Our study may provide a potential vaginal tablet formulation of ketoconazole against Candida albicans.