DOI: 10.36347/sajp.2020.v09i04.002

Pages: 141-147

The purpose of this review is to explore the difficulties in penetration of drug across nail plate & enhancement of bioavailability of antifungal drug. The existing clinical evidence suggests that a key to successful treatment of fungal diseases by topical antifungal product lies in ineffectively overcoming the nail barrier. Nails drug delivery system ( NDDS) is an important delivery system in mammals, during which their nails are highly suffering from the fungal diseases. This review is to explore the difficulties in penetration of drug across nail plate & enhancement of bioavailability of antifungal drug. NDDS is that the present topical treatments against the fungal infections by topical antifungal product lies in ineffectively overcoming the nail barrier .The clinical evidence suggests that a key to successful treatment of fungal diseases. The absorption of medicine into the nail unit, following topical application to the nail plate, is very desirable to treat nail disorders, like onychomycosis (fungal infections of the nail). Nail permeability is however quite low and limits topical therapy to early/mild disease states. The factors, which affect drug uptake and permeation through the nail plate like solute molecular size, hydrophilicity / hydrophobicity, charge, and thus the character of the vehicle, are then discussed, followed by ways of enhancing drug transport into and thru the nail plate. Finally, drug-containing nail lacquers which, like cosmetic varnish, are brushed onto the nail plates to form a movie and from which drug is released and penetrates into the nail, recent advances and marketed products are reviewed.