Objective: The main purpose of this work was to prepare tolnaftate (TOL) loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), Evaluate its characteristics and in vitro release study.

Methods: Tolnaftate loaded Nanostructured lipid carriers were prepared by the high shear homogenization method using different liquid lipids types (DERMAROL DCO® and DERMAROL CCT®) and concentrations, different concentration ratios of tween80® to span20® and different homogenization speeds. All the formulated nanoparticles were subjected to particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), polydispersity index (PI), drug entrapment efficiency (EE), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Transmission Electron microscopy (TEM), release kinetics and in vitro release study was determined.

Results: The results revealed that NLC dispersions had spherical shapes with an average size between 154.966±1.85 nm and 1078.4±103.02 nm. High entrapment efficiency was obtained with negatively charged zeta potential with PDI value ranging from 0.291±0.02 to 0.985±0.02. The release profiles of all formulations were characterized by a sustained release behavior over 24 h and the release rates increased as the amount of surfactant decreased. The release rate of TOL is expressed following the theoretical model by Higuchi.

Conclusion: From this study, It can be concluded that NLCs are a good carrier for tolnaftate delivery
Keywords: Nanostructured lipid carriers, High shear homogenization method, Topical antifungal drug