ABSTRACT

Aspergillosis, caused by Aspergillus niger, is difficult to manage due to the poor solubility of antifungal agents like posaconazole. To enhance its delivery, an ionic liquid (IL) of posaconazole was prepared in 1:4 and 1:5 molar ratios via employing solvent evaporation method. Structural characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed red shifts in O–H and N–H bands, confirming hydrogen bonding and drug-carrier interaction. X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicated reduced crystallinity. Saturation solubility and partition coefficient studies demonstrated improved aqueous solubility and reduced lipophilicity of IL formulations. In vitro dissolution showed significantly enhanced release profiles compared to the pure drug. Antifungal evaluation revealed increased activity against A. niger and retained activity against Candida albicans. These findings suggest that IL based systems can improve solubility, permeability and antifungal efficacy of posaconazole, offering a promising strategy for the treatment of aspergillosis.