Abstract

TRANS NAIL AS PROMISING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A REVIEW

Dhaval Patel*, Anil G. Raval and Parth Adhyaru

ABSTRACT

Topical therapy is highly desirable in treating nail disorders due to its localized effects, which results in minimal adverse systemic events. However; the effectiveness of topical therapies is limited by minimal drug permeability through the nail plate. Nail permeability is however quite low and limits topical therapy to early/mild disease states such as onychomycosis. Nail diseases are mainly caused by fungal infections. These fungal infections may be difficult to treat, and currently by filing the nail plate before topical application of drug formulations as well as by the use of chemical enhancers. Topical trans-nail delivery of antifungal drugs is limited by several physicochemical and physiological factors. Use of chemical permeation enhancers has been a common approach for enhancing trans-nail delivery of drugs. This new therapy may reduce the need for hazardous administration of oral anti-fungal drugs for nail infections.

Keywords: transnail, fungal infection, permeation enhancer, nail infection, anti-fungal drugs.