Contemporary Strategies for Treating Nail Disorders: A Study of Transungual Drug Delivery Systems

The nail structure comprises various components, including the nail folds, mantle, cuticle, matrix, plate, bed, hyponychium, and onychodermal band. Nails are susceptible to infections, notably fungal infections, which are widespread. Common nail disorders include paronychia, onychomycosis, tinea unguis, leukonychia, onychatrophia, onychogryposis, onychorrhexis, Beau’s lines, and koilonychia. Objectives: This review explores current challenges and strategies for effective transungual drug delivery, emphasizing innovative approaches to overcome the nail’s limited permeability and achieve better therapeutic outcomes. Challenges: Treating nail disorders is hindered by factors such as limited nail permeability, variability in nail thickness, formulation challenges, and the physicochemical properties of drugs. Methods: Various strategies have been investigated to enhance transungual drug delivery, including permeation enhancers, physical methods, nail hydration, pre-treatment approaches, and advanced nanotechnology-based systems. Results: Enhanced formulations, such as nail lacquers, patches, films, gels, hydrogels, nanoparticles, and liposomes, have shown promise in improving drug bioavailability within the nail bed. Commercial products, such as Curanil, Loceryl, Loprox, Ciclopoli, Eco-nail, Umecta, Trosyl, and Penlac, exemplify practical applications in this field. Conclusion: Effective treatment of infectious nail disorders requires tailored transungual drug delivery systems. Innovative delivery methods and formulations are essential to overcome the challenges posed by the nail’s structural barriers, ensuring improved therapeutic efficacy for antifungal treatments.