Emerging Gel Technologies for Effective Transdermal Drug Delivery – A Review

Abstract

The development of advanced gel systems for transdermal drug delivery has become a significant innovation in pharmaceutical sciences. These gel-based systems offer multiple advantages, including sustained and targeted drug release, enhanced skin permeability, improved drug stability, reduced systemic side effects, and better patient compliance. Various gel types, such as hydrogels, organogels, emulgels, and stimuli-responsive gels, are being actively researched due to their biocompatibility, ease of application, and ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Each type of gel is specifically tailored to match the physicochemical properties of the drug and therapeutic requirements, providing flexible treatment strategies for a wide range of medical and dermatological conditions. Among these, the composition of nanogels tailored to specific therapeutic needs offers promising solutions for effective and patient-friendly treatments in both medical and dermatological fields. Their high surface area, enhanced skin penetration, and controlled release capabilities make them ideal carriers for efficient and site-specific drug delivery. This review focuses on the various types of gels used in transdermal drug delivery and their unique physicochemical characteristics.