Microemulsion and Microemulsion-Based Gels for Topical Antifungal Therapy with Phytochemicals.
Skin fungal infections are regular injuries suffered by people living in tropical areas. Most common pathogens are Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton which can cause skin lesions in many parts of body. Topical antifungal phytochemicals are commonly used to avoid systemic adverse events and are more convenient for patient application than those administered by other routes. However, the effectiveness of topical treatments in eradicating fungal infection is more limited since the stratum corneum acts as the skin barrier, resulting in long treatment duration and low patient's compliance.



The goal of this work is to identify optimized drug delivery systems to improve topic clinical efficacy. Microemulsions i.e. liquid dispersions of oil and water stabilized with an interfacial film of surfactant are well known drug delivery systems.



A thickening agent may be included to form microemulsion-based gels to increase skin adhesion. Microemulsions and microemulsion-based gels can be loaded with several hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs because they are composed of both water and oil phases.



Microemulsions and microemulsion-based gels can also be used for the delivery of many drugs including antifungal drugs through stratum corneum due to their capacity to act as skin penetration enhancement. In addition to a comprehensive review of microemulsion and microemulsion-based gels as suitable carriers for skin delivery of various antifungal drugs, this review also aims to discuss the delivery of antifungal phytochemicals.
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand. prapaporn.b@psu.ac.th.
Prapaporn
P
Boonme
Jarika
J
Kaewbanjong
Thanaporn
T
Amnuaikit
Tatiana
T
Andreani
Amélia M
AM
Silva
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra (FFUC), Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal. ebsouto@ff.uc.pt.
Eliana B
EB
Souto
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004655:Emulsions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004821:Epidermophyton / Q000187:drug effects; D005782:Gels / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008864:Microsporum / Q000187:drug effects; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000187:drug effects
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004655:Emulsions; D005782:Gels; D064209:Phytochemicals