Antifungal Niosomal Nail Lacquer for Enhanced Transungual Delivery of Efinaconazole in the Treatment of Onychomycosis

Abstract

Niosomes, multilamellar vesicles, efficiently transfer active substances into the epidermis or systemic circulation. Topical medication delivery techniques increase skin permeability to active compounds. Onychomycosis, a common nail ailment caused by fungus, requires efficient topical therapies due to the risks of systemic antifungal therapy. This research aimed to make a nail polish with efinaconazole (EFN) to treat onychomycosis. The spherical Niosomes contained efinaconazole and had a 100 to 130 nm diameter. In the 24-hour in-vitro experiment, drug trapping ranged from 40 to 90% and release from 25 to 86%. The 1:2 mixtures of efinaconazole niosomes, Span 60, and CHO produced nail paint with good results. Efinaconazole-loaded niosomal nail polish had better drug release, antifungal effectiveness, and smoothness over other formulations. Topical nail polish can help low-bioavailability medicines. This method helps the medication enter the body through the nail. The ENNL can deliver onychomycosis drugs topically.