Title:Recent Progression in Nanocarrier based Techniques to Address Fungal
Infections and Patent Status in Drug Development Process
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Author(s): Ravi Pratap Singh, Raj Kumar Narang and Amrinder Singh*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, 142 001, India
Keywords:
Fungal infections, pathophysiology, NDDS, commercial nanocarrier formulations, clinical trials, patents.
Abstract: Fungal infections are becoming one of the most common diseases in recent years, especially
when it comes about dealing skin infections. Different drugs are available commercially with antifungal
activity for topical application and are effective for treatment of mild to moderate fungal infections.
However they lack dermal bioavailability due to their poor penetrability, and less retention at the site
thereby resulting in poor efficacy. The remaining systemic treatment options available so far may cause
adverse drug effects and many other complications. In recent years nano carrier based formulations
promised to overcome the limitations of the conventional topical dosage forms. Lipid based nano carriers
and their importance for potential use in delivery of antifungal agents for the treatment of superficial
fungal infections have been well discussed in this review article. It comprises of different nano lipid
systems involved in treatment of topical fungal infections, effect of different polymers on their size, stability,
and their mechanistic action behind skin penetration and dermal retention of drug into deeper epidermal
layers is also highlighted to depict recent efforts of researchers in this context. Further, addressing
of the disease by novel drug delivery systems for the efficacious treatment, status of clinical trials,
novel commercial formulations available for use in dermal drug delivery and patents claimed/granted in
the respective fields have been discussed in detail.
