Novel Topical Drug Delivery System: Microemulgel - A Review

Abstract

Topical delivery systems for drugs allow for localised drug administration through ophthalmic, vaginal, skin, and rectal routes. Topical formulations have a wide range of products designed for cosmetic or dermatological use on both healthy and diseased skin. Topical drug delivery system is generally used in where other systems of drug administration fail or it is mainly used in local skin infection like fungal infection. Topical drug delivery can be defined as the application of a drug containing formulation to the skin to directly treat cutaneous disorder. A unique feature of topical drug delivery is the direct accessibility of the skin as a target organ on human body for diagnosis and treatment. Microemulsions generally contain both a surfactant and co-surfactant that induce spontaneous formation of the system. Emulgel is a combination of emulsion and gel. Emulgel is the one of the recent technologies in NDDS used for Dual action of emulsion and gel for topical drug delivery system. Emulgel is emulsions, either of the oil-in-water or water-in-oil type, which are gelled by mixing with a gelling agent. The main objective behind emulgel is delivery of hydro phobic drug via skin so that hydrophobic moiety can enjoy the unique properties of gels. Micro-emulsions are micronized, and thermodynamically stable structures with low interfacial tension prepared by adding a co-surfactant have many advantages, including increased permeability, better thermodynamic stability, and longer release times. Emulgel improves patient compliance and emulsion stability by prolonging drug release. The formulated emulgel is assessed for parameters such as pH, viscosity, globule size, Spreadability, and so on, while the micro-emulsion is assessed for parameters such as viscosity, pH, zeta-potential, and so on.