Emerging Role of Microspheres in Topical Antifungal Therapy

Antifungal diseases represent a significant global health concern, particularly affecting the skin, hair, nails, and mucosal surfaces. The rising incidence of fungal infections, coupled with limitations of conventional topical antifungal formulations such as poor skin penetration, frequent dosing, drug instability, and reduced patient compliance, necessitates the development of advanced drug delivery systems. Microsphere-based topical drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising approach to overcome these challenges by providing controlled, sustained, and localized drug release at the site of infection. Microspheres are polymeric, spherical particulate systems capable of encapsulating antifungal agents, thereby enhancing drug stability, prolonging residence time, improving skin retention, and minimizing systemic absorption. This review highlights antifungal diseases, their conventional treatment strategies, and the limitations associated with traditional topical formulations. It further emphasizes the role of novel topical drug delivery systems, with a special focus on microspheres, including their composition, types, preparation techniques, mechanisms of drug release, and evaluation parameters. Overall, microsphere-based topical antifungal therapy offers an effective and patient-friendly alternative to conventional treatments, with potential to improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce recurrence of fungal infections.