Transungual (nail) a promising drug Delivery system: a review

Abstract

Transungual drug delivery system deals with the drug delivery through the nails to treat disorders of the nail itself. Various formulations like gel, lotion, creams are available for treatment of nail infection. The medicated nail lacquer is a new transungual drug delivery system for the treatment of nail fungal diseases. Use of this system avoids oral toxicity of antifungal drugs. Current review on transungual drug delivery system focuses on the anatomy of a human nail, diseases related to nail plate, altering the nail plate barrier by means of chemical treatments, penetration enhancers as well as physical and mechanical methods used to enhance the topical bioavailability of the drugs across the nail and latest trends in drug delivery across the nail. The factors, which affect uptake of drug and permeation through the nail plate such as solute molecular size, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, charge and the nature of the vehicle are discussed. Several patents issued on transungual drug delivery system have also been discussed. It also includes current approaches being taken to improve the treatment of diseases of the nail.