Evaluation of cellulose based films comprising tea tree oil against dermatophytes and yeasts

Abstract

Background: Onychomycosis is defined as infection caused by nondermatophytic molds and yeasts: tinea unguium is caused by dermatophytes.

Purpose: Within this study, hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) as an important non-ionic, water-soluble cellulose derivative was chosen to develop formulations containing tea tree oil as active antifungal agent were developed and evaluated for their potential in the treatment of onychomycosis.

Methods: Two polymeric films based on HEC (HEC-B-04 and HEC-E-10) were obtained by solvent evaporation method and characterized in terms of appearance, disintegration, stickiness, elongation, rheological behavior and adhesiveness. Moreover, different strains of dermatophytes such as Trichophyton rubrum and yeasts as Candida albicans were treated with polymeric films containing tea tree oil (0.5 - 2 % v/v) in order to determine their antifungal potential by the inhibition zone assay.

Results: HEC-B-04 and HEC-E-10 were investigated by SEM measurements resulting in confluent surface morphology. HEC-B-04 and HEC-E-10 showed disintegration after 32.7 min and 34.0 min, respectively. Furthermore, HEC-E-10 revealed a moisture index of 1.74 and underpinned adhesive properties in terms of required detachment force with 4.86 N. HEC-E-10 pointed to the most antifungal one among the others against Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans.

Conclusion: Taking these findings in consideration, promising adhesive onychial formulations were developed as forthcoming approach in treatment of nail infections.

Keywords: Adhesiveness; Antifungal; Inhibition zone assay; Nail; Tea tree oil.