The objective of the current investigation is to reduce dosing frequency and improve patient compliance by designing and systematically evaluating sustained release microspheres enriched gel of econazole nitrate. An antifungal agent, Econazole nitrate, is delivered through the microparticulate system using ethyl cellulose as the controlled release polymer. Microspheres were developed by the emulsion solvent diffusion-evaporation technique by using dichloromethane solvent system. The resulting microspheres were evaluated for particle size, morphology, production yield, viscosity, gel strength, mucoadhesive force, spreadability, in vitro drug release behavior and in vivo studies. The formulated microspheres were discrete, spherical with relatively smooth surface, and with good spherical shape. The particle size ranged from 6.37 to 26.03 μm and the microspheres enriched gel was found to be in the range 29694 to 53896 cps. The MLG formulations exhibited maximum gel strength was found to be (300 sec.), highest value of mucoadhesion force was found to be (34.55 dynes/cm2), and remarkable spreadability was found to be in range range (40.02-53.03 gm.cm/sec). The microspheres were incorporated in various concentrations of gel formulations and the drug release from these formulations was up to 9 hours.
