FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF NANOGEL BASED ANTIFUNGAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Mahesh Kale*, Aijaz A. Sheikh, Suraj A. Sagrule, Kailash R. Biyani

Fungal infections represent a major public health concern worldwide, affecting millions of individuals annually. These infections range from mild superficial skin conditions such as dermatophytosis and candidiasis to severe systemic diseases that may lead to life-threatening complications, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Conventional antifungal therapies, including topical creams, ointments, and systemic formulations, often suffer from several limitations such as poor drug solubility, low bioavailability, limited penetration through biological barriers, and significant systemic side effects. Drugs like Amphotericin B, although highly effective, are associated with serious toxicities including nephrotoxicity and infusion-related reactions. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising field in pharmaceutical sciences to overcome these limitations. Among various nanocarriers, nanogels have gained significant attention due to their unique structural and functional properties. Nanogels are nanosized, three-dimensional cross-linked polymeric networks capable of absorbing large amounts of water while maintaining structural integrity. These carriers combine the advantages of hydrogels and nanoparticles, including high drug loading capacity, biocompatibility, tunable drug release, and improved stability. Nanogel-based antifungal delivery systems offer several advantages such as enhanced drug solubility, targeted drug delivery, controlled release profiles, improved skin penetration, and reduced systemic toxicity. The selection of appropriate polymers, cross-linking techniques, and preparation methods plays a crucial role in determining the therapeutic efficiency of nanogel formulations. This review focuses on the formulation and evaluation of nanogel-based antifungal drug delivery systems. It discusses various polymers used in nanogel preparation, methods of synthesis including physical and chemical cross-linking techniques, and the critical evaluation parameters required to ensure formulation stability, safety, and therapeutic effectiveness. Additionally, recent advances, clinical challenges, and future perspectives of nanogel technology in antifungal therapy are also highlighted.