Griseofulvin-Loaded Microemulsion Gel For Topical Antifungal Therapy: A Review Of Formulation, Optimization And Evaluation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i3.774Keywords:
Griseofulvin , Microemulsion gel , Topical drug delivery , Solubility enhancement , Skin permeation , Antifungal agentAbstract
To explore the formulation and potential of griseofulvin-loaded microemulsion gels (microemulgels) as an advanced topical delivery system to overcome the limitations of conventional griseofulvin therapy.
Significance of Review: Griseofulvin is a lipophilic antifungal agent with poor water solubility and inconsistent oral bioavailability, requiring high doses and long treatment durations. Conventional topical therapies fail due to poor skin penetration. Microemulsion-based gels offer a promising alternative by enhancing solubility, skin permeation, and local therapeutic concentration with fewer systemic side effects.
Key Findings: Microemulsions, composed of oil, water, surfactant, and co-surfactant, form thermodynamically stable systems with droplet sizes below 100 nm. When integrated into gel matrices, they offer improved viscosity, spreadability, and controlled drug release. Studies from 2015 to 2025 have optimized component selection (e.g., oleic acid, Tween 80, ethanol), pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, and characterization parameters such as droplet size, zeta potential, pH, viscosity, and drug content. Gel incorporation with agents like Carbopol or HPMC yields stable formulations with sustained release profiles. In vitro and ex vivo evaluations demonstrate superior skin permeation and antifungal activity over traditional creams.
Conclusion: Griseofulvin-loaded microemulsion gels represent a novel and effective strategy for topical antifungal therapy, overcoming solubility and penetration challenges. Continued development, including safety evaluation and scale-up validation, could establish these systems as viable commercial alternatives for dermatophytic infections.
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