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Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of intravitreal anidulafungin injection with voriconazole and amphotericin B (Amp B) in an experimentalCandidaendophthalmitis (CE) model. Methods: Intravitreal 1 × 105CFU/0.1 mlCandida albicanswas injected into the right eyes of 24 New Zealand rabbits, which were divided into 4 groups. Voriconazole 50 μg/0.1 ml, Amp B 10 μg/0.1 ml, and Anidulafungin 50 μg/0.1 ml were injected by intravitreal injection 72 h after inoculation. The control group was injected with 0.1 ml 0.9% NaCl. Clinical scoring was performed by assessing the cornea, conjunctiva, iris, and vitreous on days 3 and 7 of therapy. At the end of the study, the right eyes of all rabbits were enucleated and histopathological evaluation was performed. Therapy groups were compared according to the clinical, histopathological, and microbiological analysis scores. Results: Total clinical scores were significantly different between treatment groups and the control group (p< 0.05). On day 7 of the therapy, clinical scores of the anidulafungin group were found to be significantly lower when compared with the other therapy groups, while a significant improvement was observed in the eyes of rabbits in the anidulafungin group (p< 0.05). Also, microbiological scores of the anidulafungin group were lower than those of the control group (p< 0.05). Histopathological scores of the anidulafungin treatment group were significantly better than the voriconazole and control groups. Inflammation was evidently suppressed and marked retinal toxicity was not observed with anidulafungin. Conclusions: This is the first study comparing the efficacy of anidulafungin with other antifungal agents. In this CE model, an intravitreal single dose of anidulafungin was shown to be noninferior to voriconazole and Amp B. As an alternative to Amp B or voriconazole, intravitreal anidulafungin is suggested as an effective antifungal agent for the treatment of CE. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Context: Ciclopirox olamine (CPO) is indicated in the treatment of vaginal fungal infections. The frequent and large dosing of available vaginal CPO creams gives rise to poor compliance amongst females. In such a situation a delivery system capable of providing sustained release of CPO is warranted and can be realized through incorporation of its liposomal formulation into a mucoadhesive gel base. The liposomal formulation would offer sustained release whereas mucoadhesive gel would prolong the contact with vaginal wall; thus avoiding frequent and large dosing. Objective: The present study aimed at investigating mucoadhesive liposomal CPO gel for vaginal use. Method: The study embarked on evaluating liposomal CPO and its Carbopol 974®P gel for stability at vaginal pH, release profile, rheological characteristics, mucoadhesive behavior and finally antifungal activity. Results: The results revealed that CPO liposomes were stable at vaginal pH; its Carbopol gel released 58.75 ± 6.4% of CPO at the end of 24 h which suggested sustained release. Rheology via viscometric, oscillatory stress sweep and oscillatory frequency sweep testing of the gel, studied at different temperatures and under different dilutions with vaginal fluid simulant testified pseudoplastic behavior of the gel. It also pointed towards the predominance of elastic behavior of the gel at all the dilutions. The gel exhibited good mucoadhesivity to sheep vaginal tissue. Furthermore, CPO entrapped in liposome too displayed antifungal activity. Conclusion: The study undertaken recommended Carbopol 974®P gel loaded with CPO liposomes as a potential delivery system for treatment of fungal vaginal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]