Abstract

EMULGEL: A REVIEW

Rajkumar Pradip Ade*, Prof. A. S. Pratapwar, Achyut Beedkar and Maroti Prakash Pawar

ABSTRACT

Topical drug delivery system can be defined as a direct effect of drug containing medication to the skin to get the effect of drug or to cure disorders. Major disadvantage of gel is the delivery of hydrophobic drug. Topical drug delivery system can be defined as a direct effect of drug containing medication to the skin to get the effect of drug or to cure disorders. Major disadvantage of gel is the delivery of hydrophobic drug. When gels and emulsions are used in combined form the dosage form are referred as emulgel. In recent years, there has been great interest in the use of novel polymers. A unique aspect of dermatological pharmacology is the direct accessibility of the skin as a target organ for diagnosis and treatment.Gels are a relatively newer class of dosage form created by entrapment of large amounts of aqueous or hydro alcoholic liquid in a network of colloidal solid particles. Gel formulations generally provide faster drug release compared with conventional ointments and creams. In spite of many advantages of gels, a major limitation is in the difficulty in delivery of hydrophobic drugs. So to overcome these limitations, emulgels are prepared Emulgels have several favorable properties for dermatological use such as being thixotropic, greaseless, easily spreadable, easily removable, emollient, nonstaining, long shelf life, transparent, and pleasing appearance. Hence, emulgels can be used as better topical drug delivery system over present systems. This review gives knowledge about emulgel including its properties, advantages, and formulation considerations and its recent advances in the research field. Emulgel formulation helps the hydrophobic drugs incorporation into the oil phase and then oily globules are dispersed in aqueous phase resulting in o/w emulsion which can be mixed into the gel base. Emulgels are used as better topical drug delivery systems over other systems because of many properties. The use of emulgels can be found in analgesics, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-acne drugs and various cosmetic formulations.

Keywords: Emulgel, emulsifiers, emulsion-based gel, hydrophobic drugs.