Fabrication of Clotrimazole Microparticles Using Polyethylene Glycol 6000 and Beeswax

Background Microparticles are one of drug delivery systems designed for sustained and controlled release of drugs for a long period of time. Clotrimazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent, which is generally used for treatment of Candida albicans and others fungal infections.
Objective The present study aims to fabricate Clotrimazole microparticles using beeswax (lipophilic coating) and polyethylene glycol (hydrophilic coating).
Methods In this study, Clotrimazole microparticles by polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) and beeswax were prepared using spray drying technique. Morphology and size of the microparticles were assessed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Particle size analyses were performed using Zetasizer technique. The drug release rate was measured using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. To study the interactions between microparticles and carriers, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used. 
Results Size of the microparticles was below 1000 µm. The microparticles prepared from beeswax and PEG 6000 had quasicrystalline and crystalline morphologies, respectively. The maximum drug release rate in 6 hours was 80.53% in formulation F3 (microparticles prepared by beeswax) and 79.29 in formulation F6 (microparticles prepared by PEG 6000). The FTIR results showed probable interactions between clotrimazole microparticles and beeswax. 
Conclusion Both beeswax and PEG 6000 polymers result in similar rate of drug release; however, since beeswax has interactions with clotrimazole, PEG 600 formulation seems to be more appropriate for fabrication of clotrimazole microparticles.