title: Novel drug delivery strategies for improving econazole antifungal action.
abstract: Econazole is a commonly used azole antifungal in clinical treatment of superficial fungal infections. It is generally used as conventional cream and gel preparations under the brand names of Spectazole (United States), Ecostatin (Canada), Pevaryl (Western Europe). Treatment efficiency of antifungal drugs depends on their penetration through target layers of skin at effective concentrations. Econazole's poor water solubility limits its bioavailability and antifungal effects. Therefore, formulation strategies have been examined for delivering econazole through targeted skin sites. The present overview focuses on novel nano-based formulation approaches used to improve econazole penetration through skin for treatment of superficial fungal infections.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firooz
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Central Tehran Branch, IAU, Tehran, Iran; Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: drshnafisi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shohreh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nafisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: maibachh@derm.ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Howard I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Maibach
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D004464:Econazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D008823:Micelles; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D008081:Liposomes; C509968:MCM-41; D008823:Micelles; D004464:Econazole; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: Drug Delivery; Econazole; Nanoparticle; Percutaneous penetration