title: New Polyurethane Nail Lacquers for the Delivery of Terbinafine: Formulation and Antifungal Activity Evaluation.
abstract: Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection. The development of new topical antifungal agents for the treatment of onychomycosis has focused on formulation enhancements that optimize the pharmacological characteristics required for its effective treatment. Polyurethanes (PUs) have never been used in therapeutic nail lacquers. The aim of this work has been the development of new PU-based nail lacquers with antifungal activity containing 1.0% (wt/wt) of terbinafine hydrochloride. The biocompatibility, wettability, and the prediction of the free volume in the polymeric matrix were assessed using a human keratinocytes cell line, contact angle, and Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy determinations, respectively. The morphology of the films obtained was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, while the nail lacquers' bioadhesion to nails was determined by mechanical tests. Viscosity, in vitro release profiles, and antifungal activity were also assessed. This study demonstrated that PU-terbinafine-based nail lacquers have good keratinocyte compatibility, good wettability properties, and adequate free volume. They formed a homogenous film after application, with suitable adhesion to the nail plate. Furthermore, the antifungal test results demonstrated that the terbinafine released from the nail lacquer Formulation A PU 19 showed activity against dermatophytes, namely Trichophyton rubrum.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Gregorí Valdes
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Caparica, Portugal; Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Serro
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physics of the University of Coimbra, Physics Department, Coimbra University, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gordo
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lídia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marto
authors.affiliation: Cosmetic Science Research Group, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baltazar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui Galhano
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: João Moura
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bordado
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: helena.ribeiro@ff.ul.pt.
authors.forename: Helena Margarida
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007764:Lacquer / Q000032:analysis*; D009262:Nails / Q000382:microbiology*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000032:analysis*; D000077291:Terbinafine; D017155:Wettability
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011140:Polyurethanes; D000077291:Terbinafine
keywords: antifungal activity; bioadhesion; biocompatibility; in vitro release; morphology; nail lacquers; polyurethane; terbinafine; wettability