The main objective of this study is to develop a safer non-invasive treatment for nail infections since the current treatment regimen has drawbacks like, incidence of systemic side effects and higher cost. Proposed topical treatment on the other hand can drastically improve the situation, hence highly desirable. This work was undertaken with a hypothesis to develop a transungual microemulsion gel for topical treatment of onychomycosis.

Nail (abnormal) infection is a common fungal infection of the nails or fingernails. It thickens, splits, breaks and breaks nails. The most unnatural infection clinically encountered is onychomycosis, mainly a chronic fungal infection of the nail bed and another nail plate. Fingernail infections can cause social, psychological or employment related problems [1]. About 50% of nail disorders are caused by onychomycosis, which is the most common nail disease in adults. The risk of nail infection is higher (4:1) [2]. The incidence of onychomycosis is increasing and diabetes, suppressed immune system and the elderly population are increasing. In fact, only 2.6% of children under the age of 18 reported having an asymptomatic infection, while 90% of the elderly were infected with onychomycosis