NOVEL APPROACHES FOR TOPICAL AND TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF ANTIFUNGAL DRUGS: CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Fungal infections constitute a significant global health challenge, necessitating prolonged therapeutic interventions and confronting limitations such as inadequate dermal penetration, emerging drug resistance, and systemic toxicity. Conventional topical formulations of antifungal agents often demonstrate suboptimal clinical efficacy owing to poor permeation across the stratum corneum and instability of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Recent advancements in pharmaceutical nanotechnology have catalysed the emergence of innovative drug delivery platforms designed to enhance cutaneous and transdermal antifungal drug administration. A broad spectrum of carrier-based systems including liposomes, noisome, ethosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and polymeric nanoparticles have exhibited superior drug solubilization, controlled release kinetics, targeted site-specific delivery, and improved patient adherence. These nanocarrier-mediated formulations not only facilitate deeper skin penetration and enhanced drug retention but also mitigate systemic exposure and associated toxicities. Furthermore, next-generation strategies such as microneedle-assisted delivery, nano emulsions, and transdermal patches have surfaced as potent and patient-friendly alternatives to conventional topical therapies. The incorporation of natural bioactive compounds and biodegradable polymers further augments the therapeutic efficacy and biocompatibility of these systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary formulation strategies, mechanistic insights, and evaluation parameters of novel topical and transdermal antifungal delivery systems. Future perspectives underscore the imperative for translational research, robust clinical validation, and regulatory standardization to advance the development of safe, effective, and sustainable antifungal therapies.