Formulations Based on Natural Ingredients for the Treatment of Nail Diseases

Contemporary Techniques and Potential Transungual Drug Delivery Nanosystems for The Treatment of Onychomycosis

The humanoid nail is considered an exceptional protective barrier that is formed mainly from keratin. Onychomycosis is the cause of 50% of nail infections that is generally caused by dermatophytes. Firstly, the infection was regarded as a cosmetic problem but because of the tenacious nature of onychomycosis and its relapses, these infections have attracted medical attention. The first line of therapy was the oral antifungal agents which were proven to be effective; nevertheless, they exhibited hepato-toxic side effects, alongside drug interactions. Following, the opportunity was shifted to the topical remedies, as onychomycosis is rather superficial, yet this route is hindered by the keratinized layers in the nail plate. A potential alternative to overcome the obstacle was applying different mechanical, physical, and chemical methods to boost the penetration of drugs through the nail plate. Unfortunately, these methods might be expensive, require an expert to be completed, or even be followed by pain or more serious side effects. Furthermore, topical formulations such as nail lacquers and patches do not provide enough sustaining effects. Recently, newer therapies such as nanovesicles, nanoparticles, and nanoemulsions have emerged for the treatment of onychomycosis that provided effective treatment with possibly no side effects. This review states the treatment strategies such as mechanical, physical, and chemical methods, and highlights various innovative dosage forms and nanosystems developed in the last 10 years with a focus on advanced findings regarding formulation systems. Furthermore, it demonstrates the natural bioactives and their formulation as nanosystems, and the most relevant clinical outcomes.

Itraconazole and Difluorinated-Curcumin Containing Chitosan Nanoparticle Loaded Hydrogel for Amelioration of Onychomycosis

Onychomycosis is a nail infection caused by a fungus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, that is responsible for major nail infections. The best method suited for treating such infections generally includes a topical remedy. However, conventional oral or topical formulations are associated with various limitations. Therefore, a more efficient and compatible formulation is developed in this study. The primary objective of the current study is to formulate and evaluate chitosan nanoparticle-based hydrogel for ameliorating onychomycosis. The sole purpose of this research was to increase the permeation of the lipophilic drug itraconazole and difluorinated curcumin, and its synergistic antifungal activity was also evaluated for the first time. Both in vitro and ex vivo drug release evaluations confirmed the sustained release of both drugs from the hydrogel, which is a prerequisite for treating onychomycosis. The results overall highlighted the promising activity of a synergistic approach that could be implemented for the treatment of onychomycosis. The hydrogel-based formulation serves as an effective method of delivery of drugs across the layers of the skin, resulting from its hydrating characteristics.