Cyclodextrin-polysaccharide-based, in situ-gelled system for ocular antifungal delivery.

Fluconazole was studied with two different hydrophilic cyclodextrins (hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) and sulfobutyl ether-ß-cyclodextrin (SBECD)) for the formation of inclusion complexes. HPBCD and SBECD showed low cell cytotoxicity in human keratocytes as assessed by the label-free xCELLigence system for real-time monitoring. The fluconazole-HPBCD complex was incorporated into an ion-sensitive ophthalmic gel composed of the natural polysaccharides gellan gum and κ-carrageenan. This system showed good bioadhesive properties and effective control of fluconazole release.