Abstract
Onychomycosis affects about 15% of the population. This disease causes physical and psychosocial discomfort to infected patients. Topical treatment (creams, solutions, gels, colloidal carriers, and nail lacquers) is usually the most commonly required due to the high toxicity of oral drugs. Currently, the most common topical formulations (creams and lotions) present a low drug delivery to the nail infection. Nail lacquers appear to increase drug delivery and simultaneously improve the effectiveness of treatment with increased patient compliance. These formulations leave a polymer film on the nail plate after solvent evaporation. The duration of the film residence in the nail constitutes an important property of nail lacquer formulation. In this study, a polyurethane polymer was used to delivery antifungals drugs, such as terbinafine hydrochloride (TH) and ciclopirox olamine (CPX) and the influence of its concentration on the properties of nail lacquer formulations was assessed. The nail lacquer containing the lowest polymer concentration (10%) was the most effective regarding the in vitro release, permeation, and antifungal activity. It has also been demonstrated that the application of PU-based nail lacquer improves the nail plate, making it smooth and uniform and reduces the porosity contributing to the greater effectiveness of these vehicles. To conclude, the use of polyurethane in nail formulations is promising for nail therapeutics.
Highlights
Onychomycosis is a nail fungal infection caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophytes, and yeast species [1]
The development of therapeutic transungual drug delivery is urgent for patients that are affected by such infections
This study reports on the physic-chemical characterization of terbinafine hydrochloride (TH) and ciclopirox olamine (CPX) nail lacquer formulation-based polyurethane
Summary
Onychomycosis is a nail fungal infection caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophytes, and yeast species [1]. Candida species have a high incidence in fingernail infection, present in as many as 75% of cases, and are more prevalent than dermatophytes [2]. The incidence of yeasts in toenail infections is much lower; approximately 2–10% cases. Infection attributed to non-dermatophytes are estimated to be 2–65% of cases higher rates, 15% have been reported [3]. The untreated onychomycosis may worsen, spread to other uninfected locations (other nails or to the surrounding skin) or infect other patients [4]. Nail keratin is an impermeable structure, restricting drug access to the organisms causing onychomycosis [5]. The development of therapeutic transungual drug delivery is urgent for patients that are affected by such infections
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