ORGANOGELS AS A POTENTIAL TOPICAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

Semisolid preparations for external application to skin have gained much demand, since it is easily absorbed through the skin layers. Many novel topical dosage forms have been discovered, among which organogels appears to play an important role. Interest in organogels has increased in a wide variety of fields including chemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceutics. Organogels are thermodynamically stable, biocompatible, isotropic gel, which not only give localized effect, but also systemic effect through percutaneous absorption. Organogels are semi-solid systems, in which an organic liquid phase is immobilized by a three-dimensional network composed of self assembled, intertwined gelator fibers. The apolar phase gets immobilized within spaces of the three-dimensional networked structure formed due to the physical interactions amongst the self assembled structures of compounds regarded as gelators. Organogels have been explored as matrices for the delivery of bioactive agents. Compared to conventional topical dosage forms, these novel formulations are found to be more advantageous and efficient. In future, organogels can give way to many promising discoveries in the field of topical dosage forms. The current review aims at giving an idea about organogels, its applications and importance in topical delivery.