NANOEMULSION: A PROMISING AND NOVEL NANOTHERAPEUTIC VEHICLE FOR TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY

Transdermal delivery of therapeutics has been identified by scientific researchers as an alternative choice of drug administration, owing to its unique and tremendous benefit over conventional and oral administrations, but its exploration has been limited because of the “skin barricade” as its major challenge. A special formulation that is capable of meeting up and overcoming its associated challenges is required. Nanotechnology is already established as one of the developing areas of technology, and its application in drug delivery has proven overwhelming success. Nanoemulsions are unique nanotechnological formulations that represent a novel drug delivery system towards resolving pharmaceutical challenges as well as improves dermal and transdermal drug delivery. Since the majority of novel drug candidates, especially those phyto-pharmaceutically discovered, are of less solubility and bioavailability, their pharmaceutical applications have been underexplored. This study aims at presenting nanoemulsion as a novel formulation capable of solving undesirable pharmaceutical challenges such as toxicity, first-pass metabolic effect, drug solubility, and bioavailability. Its potential as an exclusive nanocarrier that mobilizes and promotes transdermal therapeutic delivery is also reviewed. Improvement in drug potential and delivery using nanoemulsions as a recent advance with particular attention to the possibility of its journey through the skin and its consideration as a multiple delivery tool for the systemic circulation through the skin as a transdermal drug delivery route is also highlighted.