Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! By
Nanoemulsion-Based Tea Tree Oil: A New Frontier in Enhancing Clotrimazole Antifungal Activity Publisher



F Khorsand FATEMEH ; Sj Hashemi Seyed JAMAL ; S Mahmoudi SHAHRAM ; Hk Sarvestani Hasti KAMALI ; A Amani AMIR
Authors

Source: Molecular Biotechnology Published:2025


Abstract

Clotrimazole is widely used to treat fungal diseases, but it should be applied topically for several weeks to be effective. Previous studies have shown that nanoemulsions can enhance the topical activity of various active ingredients. This study aimed to prepare a nanoformulation of clotrimazole to improve its antifungal activity. A nanoemulsion containing clotrimazole was prepared using Tween 80 and Tween 20. The particle size was measured using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Stability studies were conducted using freeze–thaw cycles and storage at 40 °C. The antifungal activity of clotrimazole was then compared with bulk clotrimazole both in vitro and in vivo. The nanoemulsion containing clotrimazole had a particle size of 31.5 nm, measured by DLS and remained physically stable after 1 year of storage. In vitro antifungal studies showed that this nanoemulsion outperformed both bulk clotrimazole and the nanoemulsion without clotrimazole, with MIC values of 1/524288, 1/8192, and 1/1024, respectively, against T. mentagrophytes. In addition, animal studies demonstrated that mean (SD) treatment time for fungal infection was 8.6 (0.5) days with the nanoemulsion containing 1% clotrimazole, significantly smaller than that of bulk clotrimazole (1% w/w) and nanoemulsion without clotrimazole (i.e., 15.0 (1.6) and 20.0 (0.7) days, respectively). The treatment time was more than 21 days for the bulk tea tree oil and the untreated control. After 21 days of treatment, only animals treated with the clotrimazole nanoemulsion showed complete lesion healing and weight changes comparable to healthy animals. The nanoemulsion formulation containing clotrimazole demonstrates highly desirable antifungal properties, warranting further investigation in clinical trials. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Related Docs
View other Related Docs
1. Nano-Sized Technologies for Miconazole Skin Delivery, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (2016)
2. Enhanced Topical Econazole Antifungal Efficacy by Amine-Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles, Bulletin of Materials Science (2020)
3. Improved Voriconazole Topical Delivery by Nanoparticles (Minireview), Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal (2016)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Alireza Firooz (5)
Mansour Nassiri Kashani (3)
Other Related Docs
4. Novel Drug Delivery Strategies for Improving Econazole Antifungal Action, International Journal of Pharmaceutics (2015)
5. Enhancing the Efficacy of Fluconazole Against Leishmania Major: Formulation and Evaluation of Flz-Nanoemulsions for Topical Delivery, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy (2024)
6. Antifungal Activity of Green-Synthesized Curcumin-Coated Silver Nanoparticles Alone and in Combination With Fluconazole and Itraconazole Against Candida and Aspergillus Species, Current Medical Mycology (2023)
7. Plga Nanoparticles As New Drug Delivery Systems in Leishmaniasis Chemotherapy: A Review of Current Practices, Current Medicinal Chemistry (2024)
8. Synthesis, Characterization and Antifungal Activity of a Novel Formulated Nanocomposite Containing Indolicidin and Graphene Oxide Against Disseminated Candidiasis, Journal de Mycologie Medicale (2018)
9. Preparation and Safety Evaluation of Topical Simvastatin Loaded Nlcs for Vitiligo, Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin (2021)
10. Combination of Topical Liposomal Amphotericin B and Glucantime in Comparison With Glucantime Alone for the Treatment of Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (Acl) Caused by Leishmania Tropica: Study Protocol for a Randomized, Controlled Trial, Iranian Journal of Microbiology (2021)
11. Novel Strategies and Pharmaceutical Agents for the Treatment of Leish-Maniasis: A Review, Anti-Infective Agents (2020)
12. Preparation and Evaluation of Rifampicin and Co-Trimoxazole-Loaded Nanocarrier Against Brucella Melitensis Infection, Iranian Biomedical Journal (2018)
13. Efficacy Assessments of Tretinoin-Loaded Nano Lipid Carriers in Acne Vulgaris: A Double Blind, Split-Face Randomized Clinical Study, Archives of Dermatological Research (2022)
14. Evaluation of the in Vitro Antileishmanial Activity of Chitosan-Coated Nanoemulsions of Ozonated Olive Oil, Ozone: Science and Engineering (2024)
15. Diazepam Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluations, Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin (2022)
16. Preparation, Statistical Optimization and in Vitro Characterization of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles As a Potential Vehicle for Transdermal Delivery of Tramadol Hydrochloride As a Hydrophilic Compound, Nanomedicine Research Journal (2020)
17. Efficacy of Nano- and Microemulsion-Based Topical Gels in Delivery of Ibuprofen: An in Vivo Study, Journal of Microencapsulation (2017)
18. Improved Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Minimum Systemic Absorption From Topical Gels of Ibuprofen Formulated by Micelle or Nanoemulsion, Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation (2022)
19. Nanotechnology in Wound Healing; Semisolid Dosage Forms Containing Curcumin-Ampicillin Solid Lipid Nanoparticles, In-Vitro, Ex-Vivo and In-Vivo Characteristics, Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin (2018)
20. Development of a Topical Liposomal Formulation of Amphotericin B for the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance (2019)