Role of Emulgel in Enhancing Skin Delivery: A Review

Abstract

Emulgel is a semisolid topical delivery platform that combines an emulsion with a three-dimensional gel network. This hybrid architecture is particularly useful for skin delivery because the emulsion phase can accommodate lipophilic drugs, while the gel phase improves spreadability, residence, rheological behavior and user acceptability. The formulation can also support controlled release and, depending on the oil phase, surfactant system, droplet size, penetration enhancers and polymer, alter drug partitioning into the stratum corneum. This review summarizes the rationale for emulgel based skin delivery, mechanisms that may improve dermal permeation, formulation components, preparation, characterization, therapeutic applications, advantages, limitations and future prospects. Evidence from foundational and recent reviews indicates growing interest in conventional emulgels, microemulsion based emulgels and nanoemulgels for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-acne, antifungal and other topical applications.