title: Trans-ungual iontophoretic delivery of terbinafine.
abstract: Successful treatment of deep-seated nail infections remains elusive as the delivery of efficacious levels of antifungal drug to the site of action is very difficult. The aim of the present study was to attain rapid trans-ungual delivery of an antifungal agent, terbinafine, via the topical route using iontophoresis. Initial studies revealed that application of current (0.5 mA/cm(2)) could significantly enhance the trans-ungual delivery of terbinafine. An increase in the applied current or duration of current application enhanced the trans-ungual delivery of terbinafine. Permeation of terbinafine through the nail and drug load in the nail correlated well with the applied electrical dose. Release of drug from nails loaded using iontophoresis followed a two-phase release profile. Light microscopy studies substantiated the capability of iontophoresis to drive a charged molecule across the nail plate. The results of these studies indicate that iontophoresis could be developed as a potential technique for onychomycosis therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
authors.forename: Anroop B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Siva Ram K
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Vaka
authors.forename: Srinivasa M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sammeta
authors.forename: Hyun D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Phillip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Friden
authors.forename: Bireswar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: S Narasimha
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Murthy
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007478:Iontophoresis; D009262:Nails / Q000378:metabolism*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D010539:Permeability; D000077291:Terbinafine
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D000077291:Terbinafine