INNOVATIVE ANTICANDIDAL MUCOADHESIVE VAGINAL TABLETS: DESIGN AND IN-VITRO ASSESSMENT

Objective:Candida albicans is the predominant yeast isolated from clinical specimens, frequently associated with vaginal thrush or vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) as a result of its overgrowth in the vaginal cavity.The ability of C. albicans to form biofilms complicates the treatment of candidiasis, rendering it resistant to standard antifungal therapies.The emergence of fluconazole (FCZ)-resistant C. albicans necessitates the development of innovative therapeutic approaches, either as standalone treatments or in conjunction with other agents.This study explores the synergistic effects of fluconazole and quercetin in the formulation of a mucoadhesive in-situ vaginal tablet aimed at targeting resistant strains of C. albicans.The mucoadhesive vaginal tablet formulation was developed and optimized through a 3² full factorial design (FFD), focusing on enhancing the properties of mucoadhesive and swelling polymers.Carbopol 934P (61.24% w/w) served as the swelling polymer, while HPMCK4M (63.15% w/w) was utilized as the mucoadhesive polymer.Comprehensive evaluations of the developed tablet were conducted, encompassing both pre-compression and post-compression assessments.In vitro studies included drug diffusion analyses, kinetic evaluations, product assays, and antifungal efficacy tests against resistant strains of Candida albicans.The optimized formulation