Emulgel: New Potential for Enhanced Topical Medication Delivery

Background: Topical medication is a widely utilized and distinctive approach that facilitates the targeted delivery of diverse pharmaceuticals through the skin. It is a popular and unique process that directs the action of various drugs on the skin for the treatment and diagnosis of multiple diseases and disorders such as urticaria, inflammation, rheumatism, etc. Objectives: The major objectives of this review are to explore the rationale behind utilizing emulgel as an effective dosage form for topical drug delivery, assess the key formulation factors influencing emulgel performance, explore the diverse range of therapeutic agents delivered via emulgel, and discuss the challenges and future perspectives of emulgel technology in pharmaceutical applications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in emulgel formulations for topical drug delivery, addressing their formulation strategies, physicochemical characterization, therapeutic applications, patents related to emulgels and innovations in plant based emulgel formulations. Materials & Methods: A comprehensive literature search was carried out using various databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to locate pertinent articles published in peer-reviewed journals. The publications were evaluated according to certain criteria for inclusion. Information regarding emulgel formulations, physicochemical properties, drug release profiles, and therapeutic uses was extracted and compiled. Conclusion: Emulgel and other formulations have been considered as potential and promising solutions for lipophilic medications applied over the skin in the future. The objective is to provide an overview of the most recent developments and applications of emulgel in the transdermal delivery of medication, encompassing both superficial and deep drug administration through the skin.