Emulgel: A Promising Tool For Improve Skin Permeability And Stability

Abstract

Emulgel is a versatile pharmaceutical formulation designed to deliver hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs topically. Comprising a combination of hydrophilic gelling agents and lipophilic substances, emulgels offer unique advantages such as enhanced drug solubility, prolonged drug release, improved skin permeation, and increased stability compared to conventional gels or creams. The formulation process involves creating a stable emulsion of oil and water phases, which is then thickened using gelling agents like carbomers or cellulose derivatives. This results in a semi-solid, easily spreadable gel with a smooth texture. Emulgels can accommodate a wide range of active pharmaceutical ingredients, making them suitable for various therapeutic applications including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, and dermatological treatments. The biphasic nature of emulgels allows for efficient incorporation of both lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs, enabling targeted delivery to the site of action while minimizing systemic side effects. Additionally, emulgels can be tailored to control drug release kinetics, offering sustained or controlled release profiles based on specific therapeutic requirements. This review provides an overview of emulgel, its advantages, and disadvantages, drug delivery mechanism, material used for formulation, and evaluation techniques of emulgel, as well as their potential applications in drug delivery.