Emulgel: A revolution in topical drug delivery system

Abstract

Topical delivery of drugs is one of the ideal routes of administrating a wide range of drug candidates and emulgels are emerging as a novel formulation, which exhibited the characteristics of both the emulsions and gels. Emulgel demonstrated improved penetrability during several studies and it is able to deliver hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic drugs and hence overcome the limitations of traditionally available topical preparations. More stable and effective emulgels can be prepared by nanonizing and micronizing the globules of emulsions, which improves the stability and half-life of Emulgels. The commercial availability along with the presence of strong clinical pipeline of emulgels is indicating towards the acceptance of this formulation while several advantages associated with this approach is also suggesting towards its potential as ideal topical drug delivery system. This article enlisted in-depth information about the emulgels, its components and structure along with the general method of production, evaluation and future scenario of this approach. The article also involved information about the patents insight, commercially available products and previously used drugs for developing stable emulgels.

Therapeutic landscape of natural products and emulgel in psoriasis

“…They offer numerous benefits as transdermal formulations, including controlled drug release and convenient administration, which improve patient adherence to treatment. 26 Furthermore, the rheological and sensory properties of emulgels enhance their application to the skin. Emulgels designed for dermatological purposes exhibit several desirable properties.…”

The Formulation and Evaluation of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel and Cymbopogon flexuosus Linn Essential Oils Emulgel for the Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

“…Emulgels, which are made by combining gel and emulsion, are a specific sort of topical drug delivery system [32]. They are utilized for administering various medications, such as antimicrobials, antifungals, antimycotics, and analgesics [4].…”

Potential Future Perspectives of Emulgels: Emphasizing Their Role in Addressing Contemporary Challenges in Drug Delivery and Skincare

“…The structure of an emulgel typically consists of a water-in-oil (w/o) or oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion embedded within a gel matrix as shown in Figure 1 4 . This combination imparts stability and ease of application to the formulation.…”

“…Being a mixture of emulsions as well as gel, emulgels serves as mechanism with two regulated releases 15 . (w/o) emulsions are frequently used to treat dry skin and as emollients, whilst (o/w) emulsions are advantageous as medication bases that can be easily washed with water and for aesthetic purposes in general 9,14,16 . Any topical preparation's effectiveness depends on its capacity for penetration, which is defined as the ability to remove oil or substances from the skin.…”