Advancements in Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Topical Management of Superficial Fungal Infections: A Detailed Review

INTRODUCTION: Superficial fungal infections, such as dermatophytosis, candidiasis, and pityriasis versicolor, are prevalent worldwide. They put a heavy burden on healthcare systems, mainly because infections often recur, linger for months, and do not always respond well to standard treatments. The conventional topical creams and ointments fail to achieve the goal of treatment as they are often unable to penetrate deeply, do not stay long enough on the site of application, and patients mostly stop using them before the completion of the course. This review explores the biology of superficial fungal infections, the limitations of existing topical treatments, and the advancement of nanotechnology-based carriers for the topical treatment of fungal diseases. METHODS: From the recent literature, it was found that there has been noticeable progress in innovative drug delivery approaches. These novel systems are designed to improve drug solubility, drug permeation, and adherence and spreadability of the formulation on the site of application. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Several nanocarrier systems, such as liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, and solidlipid nanoparticles, have demonstrated improved therapeutic outcomes compared with older topical formulations. Novel drug delivery systems do not just improve the solubility and permeation of drugs but also reduce the frequency of doses, mitigate side effects, and help bypass mechanisms that commonly cause antifungal resistance. CONCLUSION: The review highlights the biology of fungal infections, as well as the safety, clinical use, limitations, and long-term potential of novel approaches. The study provides broad insights into innovative approaches that could significantly transform treatment strategies for superficial fungal infections in the future.