Nanocarriers in Ungual Drug Delivery

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biotechnology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Ungual disorders, such as onychomycosis and nail psoriasis, significantly affect patient quality of life.
• The nail plate's dense, keratinized structure creates a significant barrier, complicating effective drug delivery for treating nail conditions.
• Current systemic and topical treatments for ungual disorders face bioavailability challenges due to the nail's inherent properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current nanostructured drug delivery systems designed for topical treatment of ungual disorders.
• To explore technological advancements aimed at enhancing drug bioavailability within the nail plate.
• To identify challenges and limitations in the field, particularly concerning assessment methodologies.

Main Methods:

• Extensive literature review of nanostructured systems for ungual disorder treatment.
• Analysis of strategies to improve drug permeation through the nail barrier.
• Evaluation of existing methodologies for assessing nail drug permeation.

Main Results:

• Nanotechnology-based systems show potential for increasing drug bioavailability in the nail plate.
• Combining nanotech with other methods may further enhance drug permeation.
• A significant lack of standardization in nail permeation assessment methods was identified across studies.

Conclusions:

• Nanostructured systems represent a promising avenue for localized treatment of ungual disorders.
• Standardization of nail permeation testing is crucial for evaluating and comparing the efficacy of novel drug delivery systems.
• Further research is needed to optimize and validate these nanotechnological approaches for clinical application.