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@article{205859,
        author = {Saurabh Raj},
        title = {PREPARATION OF ANTIFUNGAL CREAM},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {8188-8194},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=205859},
        abstract = {Antifungal creams are semisolid topical formulations widely used for the treatment of fungal infections affecting the skin, nails, and mucosal tissues. Fungal infections caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds have become increasingly common worldwide due to factors such as poor hygiene, immunosuppression, diabetes, prolonged antibiotic therapy, and environmental conditions. Topical antifungal therapy remains one of the most effective approaches for managing superficial fungal infections because it delivers the drug directly to the infected site while minimizing systemic side effects. Antifungal creams provide several advantages including ease of application, improved patient compliance, localized drug action, reduced toxicity, and enhanced therapeutic effectiveness. 
The preparation of antifungal crea” involves the incorporation of antifungal agents into suitable cream bases using appropriate pharmaceutical excipients. Commonly used antifungal drugs include clotrimazole, miconazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine, fluconazole, and itraconazole. The selection of an appropriate cream base plays a crucial role in determining the stability, spread ability, drug release, viscosity, and therapeutic efficacy of the formulation. Creams are generally classified as oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions or water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions depending on the nature of the continuous phase. Oil-in-water creams are commonly preferred for antifungal preparations because of their non-greasy nature, ease of washing, and better patient acceptability. 
The formulation process involves several important steps including selection of active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, emulsifying agents, preservatives, humectants, stabilizers, and penetration enhancers. The oil phase and aqueous phase are separately prepared and heated to appropriate temperatures before emulsification. Continuous stirring and homogenization are employed to obtain a stable and uniform cream formulation. Quality control tests such as pH determination, viscosity measurement, spreadability, drug content uniformity, microbial evaluation, stability studies, and in vitro drug release studies are essential to ensure product quality, safety, and efficacy. 
Recent advances in topical drug delivery systems have led to the development of novel antifungal cream formulations containing nanoparticles, liposomes, microspheres, nano emulsions, and herbal extracts to improve drug penetration and therapeutic outcomes. These advanced systems enhance drug solubility, increase skin retention time, improve bioavailability, and reduce resistance associated with conventional formulations. Despite significant progress, challenges such as poor skin penetration, formulation instability, allergic reactions, and fungal resistance continue to affect antifungal therapy. 
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the preparation, formulation principles, ingredients, methods of manufacture, evaluation parameters, therapeutic applications, advantages, limitations, and recent advancements in antifungal cream formulations. The report highlights the importance of pharmaceutical formulation strategies in improving the effectiveness and safety of topical antifungal therapy.},
        keywords = {Topical drug delivery; Semisolid dosage form; Clotrimazole; Ketoconazole; Miconazole; Terbinafine; Fungal infections; Dermatophytosis; Candidiasis; Oil-in-water cream; Water-in-oil cream; Emulsion; Pharmaceutical formulation; Cream preparation; Topical antifungal therapy; Nanoemulsion; Liposomal cream; Nanoparticles; Drug release; Skin penetration; Pharmaceutical excipients; Stability studies; Spreadability; Antifungal agents; Topical formulations; Controlled drug delivery; Herbal antifungal cream; Pharmaceutical evaluation; Dermatological preparations.},
        month = {June},
        }