Topical therapy is desirable in treatment of nail diseases like onychomycosis (fungal infection of nail) and psoriasis. The topical treatment avoids the adverse effects associated with systemic therapy, thereby enhancing the patient compliance and reducing the treatment cost. However the effectiveness of the topical therapies has been limited due to the poor permeability of the nail plate to topically applied therapeutic agents. Research over the past one decade has been focused on improving the transungual permeability by means of chemical treatment, penetration enhancers, mechanical and physical methods. The present review is an attempt to discuss the different physical and chemical methods employed to increase the permeability of the nail plate. Minimally invasive electrically mediated techniques such as iontophoresis have gained success in facilitating the transungual delivery of actives. In addition drug transport across the nail plate has been improved by filing the dorsal surface of the nail plate prior to application of topical formulation. But attempts to improve the trans-nail permeation using transdermal chemical enhancers have failed so far. Attempts are on to search suitable physical enhancement techniques and chemical transungual enhancers in view to maximize the drug delivery across the nail plate.

A 32 factorial design was employed to produce controlled release solid dispersions of diclofenac sodium in Eudragit RS and RL by coevaporation of their ethanol solution in a flash evaporator. The effect of critical formulation variables namely total polymer pay loads and levels of Eudragit RL on percent drug incorporation (% DI), drug release at the end of 12 hours (Rel12) and drug release at the end of 3 hours (Rel3) were analyzed using response surface methodology. The parameters were evaluated using the F test and mathematical models containing only the significant terms were generated for each parameter using multiple linear regression analysis and analysis of variance. Both the formulation variables studied exerted a significant influence (p < 0.05) on the drug release whereas the total polymer levels emerged as a lone factor significantly influencing the percent drug incorporation. Numerical optimization technique employing desirability approach was used to develop a new formulation by setting constraints on the dependent and independent variables. The experimental values of % DI, Rel12 and Rel3 for the optimized batch were found to be 95.22 ± 1.13%, 74.52 ± 3.16% and 29.37 ± 1.26% respectively which were in close agreement with those predicted by the mathematical models. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry and Powder x-ray diffractometry confirmed that the drug was reduced to molecular or microcrystalline form in the hydrophobic polymeric matrices, which could be responsible for the controlled drug release from the solid dispersions. The drug release from the solid dispersions followed first order rate kinetics and was characterized by Higuchian diffusion model.

An oral controlled onset extended release dosage form intended to approximate the chronobiology of rheumatoid arthritis is proposed for site-specific release to the colon. The multiparticulate system consisting of drug-loaded cellulose acetate cores encapsulated within Eudragit S-100 microcapsules was designed for chronotherapeutic delivery of ketoprofen. Drug-loaded cellulose acetate cores were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation technique in an oily phase at different drug:polymer ratios (1:1, 2:1 and 4:1). These cores were successfully microencapsulated with Eudragit S-100 following the same technique at the core:coat ratio of 1:5. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the cellulose acetate cores were discrete, uniform and spherical with a porous and rough surface, whereas the Eudragit microcapsules were discrete and spherical with a smooth and dense surface. In vitro drug release studies of the Eudragit microcapsules were performed in different pH conditions following pHprogression method for a period of 16 h. The release studies indicated that the microcapsules posses both pHsensitive and controlled-release properties, showing limited drug release below pH 7.0 (6.40 to 8.94%), following which the cellulose acetate cores effectively controlled the drug release for a period of 11 h in pH 7.5. The differential scanning calorimetric and powder X-ray diffraction studies demonstrated that ketoprofen was present in dissolved state in the cellulose acetate polymeric matrix, which could explain the controlled drug release from the cores. The release of ketoprofen from Eudragit microcapsules in pH 7.5 depended on the cellulose acetate levels and was characterized by Higuchi's diffusion model.

A pH sensitive multi-particulate system intended to approximate the chronobiology of angina pectoris is proposed for colonic targeting. The system comprising of Eudragit S-100 coated pellets was designed for chronotherapeutic delivery of diltiazem hydrochloride. The drug loaded core pellets were produced by aqueous extrusion spheronization technique using microcrystalline cellulose as a spheronizing aid and PVP K 30 as a binder. Different coat weights of Eudragit S-100 were applied to the drug loaded pellets in an automatic coating machine to produce the pH sensitive coated pellets. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the core pellets were discrete, spherical, or oval with a slightly rough surface whereas the coated pellets were covered with a uniform and continuous acrylic film. Optical microscopic image analysis portrayed that the values of aspect ratio and pellet circularity were close to 1.0, indicating the core pellets were almost spherical in shape. The friability with glass spheres was below 1.0%, signifying the core pellets produced were sufficiently hard. In vitro dissolution studies of the coated pellets performed following pH progression method showed that the drug release from the coated pellets depended on the coat weights applied and pH of the dissolution media. Since, diltiazem hydrochloride is a drug, which exhibits a high solubility, it would be possible to minimize drug release from the coated pellets below pH 7.0, and effectively release the drug at colonic pH only with higher coat loads (15-20% weight gain).

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