Formulation and evaluation of ciprofloxacin as a topical gel

Abstract

Ciprofloxacin is an antibacterial agent belong to floroquinolones group, it has broad spectrum activity against Gram positive and Gram negaitive bacteria.Ciprofloxacin – HCl was formulated as a gel dosage form using two different bases, a 5% methylcellulose and 5% sodium croboxy-methyl-cellulose gel base.The concentration of (1% w/w) of the drug in each base was prepared. In vitro availability of ciprofloxacin – HCl from these bases was studied, in addition the diffusion of the drug using excised mouse skin technique were alsoevaluated.The results indicated that the extent of ciprofloxacin – HCl release was higher from methylcellulose gel base than that from sodium caroboxy-methylcellulosegel base. While the data revealed that the diffusion of the ciprofloxacin through the excised mouse skin was higher from sodium croboxy-methyl-cellulosegel base than that from methylcellulose. According to these results, 5% methylcellulose gel base was selected for further studies. The influence of storagetime and temperature on the stability of the drug, as well as physical properties and pH, for the selected formula over a period of 45 days was studied. Theconcentration of ciprofloxacin was found to decrease with time and temperature and no changes in the physical properties were noticed. The shelf life of the drug in the selected gel base was determined using exaggerated temperature techinque and it was equal to 2.5 years.The overall results of this study suggest that the selected formula could be used in the preparation of ciprofloxacin gel as a topical dosage form to be used inthe treatment of some dermatological infections.