Title:

Nanoemulgel Development for Topical Delivery: Formulation and Characterization

Author:

Welankiwar AS*¹, Keche PS¹, Gawande AS¹, Masne TP¹, Bonde DA¹, Chaudhary MV¹

¹P. R. Pote Patil College of Pharmacy, Amravati, Maharashtra 444604 India

Received: 22^th Aug, 2025; Revised: 15^th Sep, 2025; Accepted: 21^st Nov, 2025; Available Online: 30^th Nov, 2025

ABSTRACT

Traditional treatments for inflammatory and microbial skin conditions, along with many potent bioactive compounds such as Curcumin, often fall short due to significant limitations in absorption and stability. Despite its well-documented therapeutic properties, Curcumin’s clinical utility is severely hampered by its inherent drawbacks: poor water solubility, chemical instability, and rapid elimination from the body. These factors collectively reduce its bioavailability and ultimately its effectiveness when applied topically or administered systemically. To overcome these critical challenges and unlock Curcumin’s full therapeutic potential, a sophisticated Curcumin-loaded nanoemulgel was developed. This innovative formulation was specifically engineered to significantly enhance Curcumin’s solubility, improve its penetration into the skin, and ensure a sustained release at the target site. The development process involved creating an oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion encapsulating Curcumin, which was then meticulously integrated into a Carbopol gel base to ensure optimal stability and topical applicability. Further enhancing the nanoemulgel’s multi-functional profile, Eucalyptus oil was incorporated for its well-known antimicrobial properties and its ability to act as a penetration enhancer, facilitating deeper delivery of Curcumin into the skin layers. Additionally, Piperine was included in the formulation to synergistically boost Curcumin’s absorption and bioavailability, leveraging its established role as a natural bioenhancer. Rigorous and comprehensive testing unequivocally demonstrated the success of this novel approach. The Curcumin nanoemulgel exhibited remarkable improvements in several key areas: significantly enhanced Curcumin solubilization, superior skin penetration, prolonged and sustained release of the active compound, and notable antimicrobial activity against relevant pathogens. This groundbreaking Curcumin nanoemulgel represents a highly promising, multi-functional platform. It effectively addresses and surmounts the inherent limitations of Curcumin, paving the way for more effective treatment of various skin disorders and ultimately leading to improved patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes.

Keywords: Nanoemulgel, Curcumin, Piperin A, Eucalyptus oil.

How to cite this article: Welankiwar AS, Keche PS, Gawande AS, Masne TP, Bonde DA, Chaudhary MV. Nanoemulgel development for topical delivery: formulation and characterization. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2025;15(4):34–43

Source of support: Nil.

Conflict of interest: None

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