Emulgel: A revolution in topical drug delivery system

Journal of Young Pharmacists, 2021

Background: Topical drug delivery system is dosage forms which are applied directly to the skin to cure various diseases. When we compare all the semisolid preparation for topical drug delivery, gels have been extensively used in cosmetics as well as pharmaceutical preparations. The major drawback of gels is in delivery of hydrophobic drugs which can be overcome by using emulgels. The dosage forms where gel and emulsion are combined together are known as emulgel. Emulgel is one of the modern technologies in novel drug delivery system for topical use having properties of dual control release i.e. emulsion and gel. Methods: In emulgel drug delivery system drugs are incorporated into globules which are then dispersed resulting in the formation of emulsion which is then mixed with the gel base. Results: It was seen that emulgels are better topical drug delivery systems compared to others owing to its advantages such as greaseless, smooth, homogeneous texture, glossy appearance, transparent, pH equivalent to pH of skin, high drug content and sustained release. Conclusion: This review article focuses on emulgel including its properties and formulation considerations with characterization parameters proving that emulgels are one of the most effective and convenient drug delivery systems.

World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022

Topical drug delivery is a convenient mode of drug delivery to treat localized infections. Topical medications are available in many dosage forms, such as creams, ointments, gels, pastes, and lotions. Both emulsions and gels are known for their benefits as topical preparations with few limitations. The literature on emulgel formulations was searched in June 2021 from various scientific journal articles. From a total of 102 searched articles, 24 duplicated articles and 36 irrelevantly judged on the abstract or full papers were excluded. Finally, 47 articles were selected for review. Emulgel possesses many promising properties for dermatological use such as being greaseless, easily removable, easily spreadable, emollient, non-staining, longer shelf-life, transparent, having an elegant appearance and having less potential to cause serious side-effects. Many formulation scientists have started to develop emulgel using various active pharmaceutical ingredients, especially which are hydro...

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 2021

Emulgel is an emerging delivery system with added advantages over other topical delivery systems which is proven to be boon for cosmetics and dermatology. Emulgels are emulsion which is converted to Gel, which will make it a non greasy and enhances patient compliance. The amalgamation of the two systems would be advantages in term of high drug loading capacity and low skin irritation, site specific targeting avoiding first-pass metabolism and increase in bioavailability. Work carried out by researchers proved that, Emulgel/ Nanoemulgel loaded with drugs has been found effective in many topical disorders and it is emerging as potential drug delivery system in area of dermatology. In the present review current research works that carried out on Emulgel and nano emulgels are discussed and also highlighted the recent applications of Emulgel in transdermal as well as dental, ocular, vaginal, and other delivery system.

Skin is most liable to have microbial or fungal infections. Emulsions are gellified emulsion in which emulsion is incorporated into gel base. Skin is having different layers like dermis, epidermis and stratum corneum and different sub layers. Emulgels having advantages like Better stability, Hydrophobic drugs can be easily incorporated into gels using d/o/w emulsions, Production feasibility, low preparation cost, Better loading capacity, Controlled release and No intensive sonication with certain disadvantages like poor penetration, skin irritation, bubble formation. Emulgels are of two types micro emulsion gels and nano emulgel. Emulgels are prepared contains aqueous phase made up of water or alcohols, Oil phase made up of mineral oil in combination with soft paraffin or hard paraffin, emulsifiers, gelling agents, anti-oxidants, preservatives, penetration enhancer and humectants. Emulgels are characterised for parameters such as Physical Examination, Rhelogical Studies, Globule size and its distribution in emulgel, Spreading Coefficient, Extrudability Study of Topical Emulgel (Tube Test), Swelling Index, Drug Content Determination, Skin Irritation Test (Patch Test), Ex–Vivo Bioadhesive strength measurement of topical emulgel, In-Vitro Release Study, Microbiological assay, Drug Release Kinetic Study, Stability Studies and Accelerated stability studies of Gellified Emulsion.

When gel and emulsion are used in combined form the dosage form are referred as emulgel. Emulgels have emerged as one of the most interesting topical delivery system as it has dual release control system i.e. gel and emulsion. The major objective behind this formulation is delivery of hydrophobic drugs to systemic circulation via skin. In fact presence of a gelling agent in water phase converts a classical emulsion in to emulgel. The emulgel for dermatological use has several favorable properties such as being thixotropic, greaseless, easily spreadable, easily removable, emollient, non-staining, water-soluble, longer shelf life, bio-friendly, transparent & pleasing appearance. Various penetration enhancers can potentiate the effect. So this can be used as better topical drug delivery systems over present conventional systems available in market.

Emulgel systems are currently of attention to the pharmaceutical scientists because of their substantial potential to act as drug delivery vehicle by incorporating a broad range of drug molecules. These are either emulsion of water in oil type or oil in water, which is gelled by mixing it with a gelling agent. Incorporation of emulsion into gel makes it a dual control release system & also increases its stability. Due to lack of insoluble excipients and excess oily bases, it demonstrates better drug release as compared to other topical drug delivery system. Due to nongreasy because of the presence of gel phase which favors good patient compliance. In order to understand the potential of emulgel as delivery vehicles, this review gives an overview of the ideal properties, formation, and characterization of emulgels. The use of emulgel-based systems as drug delivery vehicles is reviewed, with particular emphasis being placed on recent developments and future directions. In comparison with the other semisolid formulations, the use of gels seems to be more advantageous both in cosmetics and pharmaceutical preparations. When gel and emulsion are used in the combined form, they are referred as emulgel. Emulgel is the promising drug delivery system for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs. Emulgel, an interesting topical drug delivery system, has dual release control system, i.e., gel and emulsion. Emulgel have several merits like greaseless, easily spreadable, easily removable, emollient and transparency. Preparation of emulgel is done by incorporation method. Emulgel are commonly used for the delivery of analgesics, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-acne drugs and various cosmetic formulations. Studies on emulgel promises a better future in delivering more numbers of topical drugs as emulgel by their merits over other drug delivery systems.

Emulgel is currently attracting researchers for its potential as a drug delivery system by loading a broad range of drug molecules. Emulgel is formed by incorporating either o/w or w/o emulsion in a gel base formed by a gelling agent. By incorporating emulsion into a gel enhances the stability and makes it a dual control release system. When compared with other topical drug delivery systems emulgel shows better drug release and enhanced patient compliance due to the presence of soluble excipients. The current review gives an overview of ideal properties with special emphasis on the formulation and evaluation of emulgel.

2019

These days, there is an upsurge in topical formulations such that it can be prepared by varying physicochemical properties and providing better localized action. The topical formulation is significant to patient for chronic skin diseases, like fungal infections, acne, and psoriasis. In NDDS (Novel Drug Delivery System), Emulgel is one of the recent technology used topically having characteristics of dual control release i.e. emulsion as well as gel. When gels and emulsions are used in combined form the dosage form are known as emulgel. Limitation of gels in the delivery of hydrophobic drugs through the skin. Overcome this limitation an emulsion based approach is being used so that even a hydrophobic therapeutic moiety can exhibit the unique properties of gels. Emulgel is prepared by different polymers which act as an emulsifying agent and thickening agent because the gelling capacity of these polymers give rise to stable emulsions and creams by decreasing interfacial and surface tension while at the same time increasing the viscosity of the aqueous phase. Emulgel are having major advantages on novel vesicular systems as well as on conventional systems considering various aspects. The emulgel provide several favourable properties for its dermatological use such as greaseless, thixotropic, easily spreadable, emollient, easily removable, non-staining, water soluble, longer shelf life, transparent, bio-friendly and pleasing appearance.

A unique aspect of dermatological pharmacology is the direct accessibility of the skin as a target organ for diagnosis and treatment. When gel and emulsion are used in combined form they are referred as Emulgel. Among the various groups of semisolid preparations, the use of gels has expanded both in cosmetics and in pharmaceutical preparations. Despite of several advantages of gels there is a limitation in delivery of hydrophobic drug moiety. This limitation can be overcome by the use of novel topical drug delivery i.e. emulgel. The major objective behind emulgel is delivery of hydrophobic drugs via skin. Emulgels show dual release control system i.e. gel and emulsion. The presence of a gelling agent in the water phase converts a classical emulsion into an emulgel. These emulgel are having major advantages on novel vesicular system as well as on conventional systems in various aspects. Emulgels have several favourable properties for dermatological use such as being thixotropic, greaseless, easily spreadable, easily removable, emollient, nonstaining, long shelf life, bio-friendly, transparent and pleasing appearance. So emulgels can be used as better topical drug delivery systems over present systems. The use of emulgels can be expanded in analgesics, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-acne drugs and various cosmetic formulations.

World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2019

Topical drug delivery is most widely employed for the local dermatological action, but now a days new techniques are also utilized to enhancing its systemic effect. They are generally adopted for the purpose as antiseptics, antifungal agents, skin emollients, and protective. The activity of topical preparation reveal the various factors as drug solubility, contact time to skin, its lipophilicity, its permeability. Gels are a quite newer class of dosage form formulated by entrapment of large amounts of aqueous or hydro-alcoholic liquid with in the network of colloidal solid particles. Gel formulations generally provide faster drug release as compared to conventional topical drug delivery formulations. In spite of many advantages of gels, a major limitation is in the difficulty in delivery of hydrophobic drugs. So to overcome these limitations, emulgels are prepared. When gels and emulsions are used in combined form, the dosage forms are known as Emulgels. Emulsions have a certain degree of elegance and they are easily washed off whenever desired. Emulgels have numerous advantages in the area of dermatology such as being thixotropic, greaseless, easily spreadable, easily removable, emollient, nonstaining, long shelf life, bio-friendly, transparent and pleasing appearance. Emulgel are being used for the delivery of analgesics, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-acne drugs and various cosmetic formulations with still wide range to explore.