Development and Characterization of Ketoconazole-Loaded Nail Lacquer for the Topical Treatment of Onychomycosis

Background: Onychomycosisis is a fungal nail infection mainly caused by funguses like Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus, and various species of Candida that impact the nail. Symptoms can manifest as a color change of the nails, appearing white or yellow, along with becoming thicker of the nails and separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Ketoconazole-loaded fungicidal nail lacquer has been manufactured in the present study. The objective of the formulation's development was to achieve enhanced adherence with the nail plate and sustained release of ketoconazole over a prolonged time frame, thereby reducing the frequency of administration, minimizing the systemic toxicity, improving the drug permeation and clinical effectiveness, and enhancing patient acceptance. Materials and Methods: Nail lacquer formulations were created through simple mixing methods. Among all formulations, nail lacquers coded as F2, F3, F5, F6, and F8 were optimized based on drying time and subsequently examined for their physicochemical, molecular, and in vitro antimicrobial investigation. Results: The drug permeation investigation indicated that the optimized formulations F2 and F3 showed the most prominent drug permeation. FTIR analysis indicated compatibility between the drug and excipients. The optimized formulations F2 and F3 exhibited a substantial inhibitory zone against Candida albicans. Conclusion: The optimized compositions of nail lacquers may be regarded as a viable topical therapy method for onychomycosis.