In-Vitro Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Terbinafine and Terbinafine Nano-Drug Against Clinical Isolates of Dermatophytes

[Background]Due to long-term treatment of dermatophytic lesions, such as tinea unguium and using antifungal drugs, which cause side effects, it is essential to investigate new antifungal drugs with greater absorption and fewer side effects, such as nano-drugs. Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis are important dermatophyte ‎species. To investigate new strategy treatment, researchers have tried to find a new drug with extensive therapeutic effects and short-duration treatment. In this context, nano-drugs have gained great interest in improving the efficacy of antifungal properties compared to commercial drugs.[Objectives]The aim of this study was to compare the effects of free terbinafine and nano-liposomal terbinafine on growth of clinical isolates of T. rubrum and M. canis.[Methods]In this study, 120 isolates of T. rubrum and M. canis were separated from dermatophytosis lesions. Diagnosis of the strains was based on the morphological structure and molecular identification. Nano-liposomal terbinafine was prepared and analyzed. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by broth micro dilution CLSI M 38-A method to compare inhibitory growth effects of nano-liposomal characteristics of terbinafine and free terbinafine.[Results]The results showed that the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values of terbinafine against T. rubrum and M. canis strains were 0.0625 to 1 μ/mL and 0.0313 to 0.5 μ/mL, respectively. Also, the MIC values of nano-liposomal terbinafine against T. rubrum and M. canis were 0.0156 to 0.25 μ/mL and 0.0078 to 0.125 μ/mL, respectively.[Conclusions]Comparison of the antifungal effects of nano-liposomal terbinafine and free terbinafine against T. rubrum and M. canis isolates showed that the nanopartilces of terbinafine had a greater antifungal activity against the studied isolates and can be used as an alternative agent for dermatophytosis treatments.