Onychomycosis is a nail infection caused by a fungus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, that is responsible for major nail infections. The best method suited for treating such infections generally includes a topical remedy. However, conventional oral or topical formulations are associated with various limitations. Therefore, a more efficient and compatible formulation is developed in this study. The primary objective of the current study is to formulate and evaluate chitosan nanoparticle-based hydrogel for ameliorating onychomycosis. The sole purpose of this research was to increase the permeation of the lipophilic drug itraconazole and difluorinated curcumin, and its synergistic antifungal activity was also evaluated for the first time. Both in vitro and ex vivo drug release evaluations confirmed the sustained release of both drugs from the hydrogel, which is a prerequisite for treating onychomycosis. The results overall highlighted the promising activity of a synergistic approach that could be implemented for the treatment of onychomycosis. The hydrogel-based formulation serves as an effective method of delivery of drugs across the layers of the skin, resulting from its hydrating characteristics.
Keywords: Trichophyton mentagrophytes; chitosan nanoparticle; difluorinated curcumin; hydrogel; itraconazole; onychomycosis.