EMULGEL – NOVEL TOPICAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A REVIEW

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.

Keywords: Emulgel, Gelling agent, Emulsion, Topical agents