Hydrogel-Based Topical Antifungal Drug Delivery Systems

Fungal infections span superficial skin conditions to life-threatening systemic diseases, especially in immunocompromised patients. Conventional antifungals often suffer from poor aqueous solubility, limited skin retention, systemic toxicity, and rising resistance. To address these limitations, this study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of an antifungal hydrogel for topical delivery. Hydrogels are three-dimensional, cross-linked polymeric networks that retain significant water, offering improved drug residence time, controlled release, enhanced patient acceptability, and localized therapeutic action. The proposed hydrogel employs Carbopol as the gelling polymer, with propylene glycol and glycerine serving as humectants and permeation enhancers, while purified water acts as the aqueous vehicle for the active pharmaceutical ingredient. This system aims to increase topical drug retention, provide sustained release, reduce dosing frequency, and ultimately improve therapeutic outcomes in localized fungal infections. Such a formulation could be particularly valuable for cutaneous and mucocutaneous candidiasis, dermatophytosis, and other superficial mycoses requiring targeted, non-systemic therapy.