Nanoemulgel: A promising phase in drug delivery

Recently, the delivery of hydrophobic/ poorly water-soluble drugs has been a challenging task. Various strategies have been developed to counter the former along with other prime issues, such as stability, bioavailability etc. However, only few formulations have been successful in addressing the problems and nanoemulgel is a standout among them. Nanoemulgels are appropriate candidates for drug delivery because of their dual character i.e. the presence of an emulsion in the nano scale and a gel base, both combined as a single formulation. The nanoemulsion component of the nanoemulgel conforms protection to the active moiety by preventing the enzymatic degradation and certain reactions like hydrolysis. The gel base attributes thermodynamic stability to the emulsion by increasing the viscosity of the aqueous phase by decreasing the interfacial and surface tension. Nanoemulgels possess rheological characteristics which are suited especially for topical delivery and other forms such as dental delivery with the aid of better patient acceptance. As the globule size is present in the nano form alongside the employment of certain penetration enhancers can increase the effectiveness of the formulation by enhancing the permeability and diffusibility. Reports suggest that certain commercially available topical dosage forms have a low spreading coefficient in comparison with the nanoemulgel thereby focusing on the application of nanoemulgels in the field of dermatology, although paving way for various other fields have not been thoroughly exploited. This comprehensive review highlights the benefits of nanoemulgel as a potential carrier for drug delivery with an overview of few illustrations supporting the cause.