To Develop and Evaluate Herbal Transdermal Patches with Antifungal Properties for Effective and Sustained Treatment of Fungal Infections

Fungal infections, or mycoses, range from superficial conditions to life-threatening invasive diseases and are increasingly recognized as a major global health concern. Their prevalence has risen due to expanding immunocompromised populations, comorbidities such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, and medical interventions that create susceptible hosts. Despite their growing impact, fungal diseases remain underdiagnosed and underprioritized, particularly in resource-limited settings. These infections can be broadly classified as superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous, mucosal, or systemic, with dermatophytes, Candida, Aspergillus, and other opportunistic fungi being significant pathogens. Traditional antifungal therapies often face limitations such as resistance, systemic toxicity, and poor patient compliance, underscoring the need for alternative strategies. Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) have emerged as a promising approach, offering advantages like sustained release, localized effects, improved compliance, and bypassing hepatic metabolism. Transdermal patchesprovide non-invasive, controlled drug delivery, while novel formulations improve skin penetration and therapeutic outcomes. Herbal antifungal agents such as neem, turmeric, garlic, tea tree oil, coconut oil, and Cinnamomum camphora demonstrate potent antifungal mechanisms, enhanced further through incorporation in transdermal systems. Preparation methods such as solvent casting and the use of biocompatible polymers, permeation enhancers, and plasticizers have been optimized to ensure patch stability, drug content uniformity, and efficacy. Evaluation techniques including UV-Vis, HPLC, FTIR, in vitro release, antifungal assays, ex vivo permeation, and skin irritation tests confirm therapeutic potential. Stability studies further ensure long-term effectiveness. Collectively, integrating herbal antifungal agents into advanced TDDS represents a significant advancement in the management of fungal infections.