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An investigation into UV-curable gel formulations for topical nail medicines

Kerai, LV; (2016) An investigation into UV-curable gel formulations for topical nail medicines. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London). Green open access

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Abstract

UV gels are nail cosmetics which are applied on the nail plate surface and polymerised by placing the nail under a UVA nail lamp. The polymeric film formed can reside on the nail plate for up to 3 weeks without developing any visible defects. Using such a formulation as a drug carrier for the treatment of nail diseases, e.g. fungal infections, could address current issues with topical formulations, such as the failure to maintain a drug depot at the desired site and the need for frequent applications. The aim of this thesis was thus to formulate pharmaceutical UV-curable gels, using antifungals as test drugs, and characterise the resulting film’s properties, such as morphology, thickness, macro- and micro-structure, residual monomer content, stability, in vivo nail residence, drug release, ungual drug permeation and efficacy. The gels formulated contained diurethane dimethacrylate, different reactive diluent (meth)acrylate-based monomers, a photoinitiator, antifungal drugs (amorolfine HCl or terbinafine HCl), solvents and penetration enhancers. The diluent monomer, solvent and penetration enhancer choice and amount varied in the gel in order to develop an optimised formulation. Upon application to a nail model and exposure to UVA for 2 minutes, the pharmaceutical gels polymerised and formed smooth, transparent, thin and highly cross-linked films, containing negligible levels of residual monomers. The formulations were stable and were able to reside on the nails of volunteers for up to two weeks. Despite drug release studies showing incomplete release from the formulations developed, the amount of drug that permeated across the nail was sufficient to arrest the growth of the fungus Trichophyton rubrum (the most common fungus causing nail infections) in an in vitro model. In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that the UV-curable gel formulations show potential as drug carriers for the topical treatment of nail diseases, in this instance for fungal infections.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Title: An investigation into UV-curable gel formulations for topical nail medicines
Event: UCL (University College London)
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > UCL School of Pharmacy
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1532134
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