FUNGICIDAL ADDITIVE IN COSMETIC NAIL VARNISHES

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15421/jchemtech.v33i3.321373

Keywords:

cosmetic polish, biocidal additive, stability, nail onychomycosis, quaternary ammonium compounds, active pharmaceutical ingredient

Abstract

The object of the study is to provide a fungicidal effect to cosmetic nail varnishes by adding a special additive to the varnishes. This work proposes an innovative approach to the use of nail varnishes with an updated chemical composition both for the aesthetic masking of defects caused by onychomycosis pathogens and for the protection of the nail plate from fungal infections. Daily use of cosmetic varnishes with a fungicidal additive allows you to protect nails from fungi. This can be used both in the treatment of nails and for the purpose of prevention in population groups with an increased risk of onychomycosis infection (elderly people, people with diabetes, people with a weakened immune system, people who often visit swimming pools, saunas, baths, etc.). The results obtained give grounds to claim that the developed additive will provide fungicidal properties to cosmetic varnishes, both colored and colorless. In addition, the fungicidal additive includes urea, which accelerates the diffusion of the active substance into the thickness of the nail. A mixture of four quaternary ammonium salts was used as the active substance. It was established that the additive has pronounced fungicidal properties against the main pathogens of onychomycosis. Therefore, it is advisable to use it to provide fungicidal properties to cosmetic varnishes. It was shown that after the introduction of the biocidal additive into the composition of cosmetic varnishes (colored and colorless), they appeared to have pronounced fungicidal activity against pathogens of mycoses. The studied cosmetic nail varnishes with the additive did not significantly change their physicochemical and organoleptic properties after its introduction both immediately and after determining stability for 16 months. The presented results may be useful in the development of a system based on cosmetic varnishes and a fungicidal additive for the prevention and treatment of onychomycosis. Practical application of these results is possible in the production of medical products.

References

Akhtar, N., Sharma, H., Pathak, K. (2016). Onychomycosis: potential of nail lacquers in transungual delivery of antifungals. Scientifica, 2016(1), 1387936. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/1387936

Yang, F., Yu, X., Shao, W., Guo, P., Cao, S., Wang, M., Wang, Y., Wu, C., Xu, Y. (2020). Co-delivery of terbinafine hydrochloride and urea with an in situ film-forming system for nail targeting treatment. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 585, 119497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119497

Angelo, T., Borgheti-Cardoso, L. N., Gelfuso, G. M., Taveira, S. F., Gratieri, T. (2017). Chemical and physical strategies in onychomycosis topical treatment: A review. Medical mycology, 55(5), 461–475. https://doi.org/10.1093/mmy/myw084

Berthelsen, P., Beltoft, V., Thorup, I., Søborg, I., Nielsen, E. (2000). Toxicological Evaluation and Limit Values for 2-Ethylhexyl acryate, Propylene carbonate, Quaternary ammonium compounds, triglycidyl isocyanurate and tripropyleneglycol diacrylate. The Institute of Food Safety and Toxicology, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Project N0 555), København.

Bessarabov, V., Lisovyi, V., Lyzhniuk, V., Kostiuk, V., Smishko, R., Yaremenko, V., Goy, A., Derkach, T., Kuzmina, G., Gureyeva, S. (2025). Development and characterisation of polymeric solid dispersed systems of hesperidin, obtained by centrifugal fibre formation. Heliyon, 11(4), e42702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42702

Bessarabov, V., Kostiuk, V., Lyzhniuk, V., Lisovyi, V., Smishko, R., Kuzmina, G., Gureyeva, S., Goy, A. (2025). "Green" technology of centrifugal fiber formation of solid dispersed systems of nimesulide: Evaluation of solubility increases and physicochemical characteristics. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 43, 101913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2025.101913

Ishchenko, O., Plavan, V., Valeika, V., Koliada, M., Liashok, I., Budash, Y., Bessarabov, V. (2022). Modified Starch in Composition with Polyvinyl Alcohol as a Basis for Development of the Polymeric Materials for Pharmaceutical Use. Starch‐Stärke, 74(9-10), 2200062. https://doi.org/10.1002/star.202200062

Bessarabov, V., Kostiuk, V., Lyzhniuk, V., Lisovyi, V., Derkach, T., Kuzmina, G., Goy, A., Vakhitova, L. (2025). Polymer solid dispersion system of nimesulide: in vitro dissolution assessment, thermodynamic and physicochemical characteristics. ScienceRise: Pharmaceutical Science, 1(53), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-4852.2025.322985

Kachan, R., Zakomoldina, A., Yatsuta, I. (2023). [Creation of a polymer composite with fungicidal properties]. Visnyk Khmelnytskoho natsionalnoho universytetu, 323(4), 149–153. (in Ukrainian). https://doi.org/10.31891/2307-5732-2023-323-4- 149-153

Sigurgeirsson, B., Ghannoum, M. A., Osman‐Ponchet, H., Kerrouche, N., Sidou, F. (2016). Application of cosmetic nail varnish does not affect the antifungal efficacy of amorolfine 5% nail lacquer in the treatment of distal subungual toenail onychomycosis: results of a randomised active‐controlled study and in vitro assays. Mycoses, 59(5), 319–326. https://doi.org/10.1111/myc.12473

Gunawardena, G. Quaternary Ammonium Salt. LibreTexts Chemistry. https://chem.libretexts.org/@go/page/42299?pdf

Kumar, T. P., Raju, P. N. (2013). Transungual drug delivery: a promising route to treat nail disorders. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res, 2(4), 22–33.

Bardac 208 М. Azelis. https://explore.azelis.com/en_US/ca_hcic/bardac-208-m?0bc1e1cbbd54c7119aaa1567e9652cc6=1

Sharma, K. (2023). Quaternary Ammonium Salts: Definition, Preparation, Applications. Science Info. https://scienceinfo.com/quaternary-ammonium-salts-preparation-use/

Sun, G. (2011). Antibacterial textile materials for medical applications. In Functional Textiles for Improved Performance, Protection and Health. Woodhead Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857092878.360

Kachan, R., Strashnyi, V. (2023). [Influence of active ingredients on the effectiveness of polymeric composite materials in the form of varnish with fungicidal action]. Visnyk Khmelnytskoho natsionalnoho universytetu, 329(6), 157–160. (in Ukrainian) https://doi.org/10.31891/2307-5732-2023-329-6-157-160

Kachan, R., Petrova, L., Prohorenkо, M., Soboleva, K. (2023). [Justification of thecomposition of the polymer composite material with fungicidal properties]. Visnyk Khmelnytskoho natsionalnoho universytetu, 325(5(1), 123–127. (in Ukrainian) https://doi.org/10.31891/2307-5732-2023-325-5-123-127

Lunter, D., Klang, V., Eichner, A., Savic, S. M., Savic, S., Lian, G., Erdő, F. (2024). Progress in Topical and Transdermal Drug Delivery Research—Focus on Nanoformulations. Pharmaceutics, 16(6), 817. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16060817

Piquero-Casals, J., Morgado-Carrasco, D., Granger, C., Trullàs, C., Jesús-Silva, A., Krutmann, J. (2021). Urea in Dermatology: A Review of its Emollient, Moisturizing, Keratolytic, Skin Barrier Enhancing and Antimicrobial Properties. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 11, 1905–1915. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-021-00611-y

Alberdi, E., Gómez, C. (2023). Urea versus fractional Er:YAG laser pretreatment of methylene blue photodynamic therapy in the treatment of moderate toenail onychomycosis: short- and medium-term effects. Arch Dermatol Res, 315, 787–794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-022-02448-7

Pan, M., Heinecke, G., Bernardo, S., Tsui, C., Levitt, J. (2013). Urea: a comprehensive review of the clinical literature. Dermatology online journal, 19(11). https://doi.org/10.5070/D31911020392

Bassiri-Jahromi, S., Ehsani, A. H., Mirshams-Shahshahani, M., Jamshidi, B. (2012). A comparative evaluation of combination therapy of fluconazole 1% and urea 40% compared with fluconazole 1% alone in a nail lacquer for treatment of onychomycosis: therapeutic trial. Journal of dermatological treatment, 23(6), 453–456. https://doi.org/10.3109/09546634.2011.588191

Lahfa, M., Bulai-Livideanu, C., Baran, R., Ortonne, J. P., Richert, B., Tosti, A., Piraccini, B. M., Szepietowski, J. C., Sibaud, V., Coubetergues, H., Voisard, J. J., Paul, C. (2013). Efficacy, safety and tolerability of an optimized avulsion technique with onyster® (40% urea ointment with plastic dressing) ointment compared to bifonazole-urea ointment for removal of the clinically infected nail in toenail onychomycosis: a randomized evaluator-blinded controlled study. Dermatology, 226(1), 5–12. https://doi.org/10.1159/000345105

Piraccini, B. M., Bruni, F., Alessandrini, A., Starace, M. (2015). Evaluation of efficacy and tolerability of four weeks bifonazole treatment after nail ablation with 40% urea in mild to moderate distal subungual onychomycosis. Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia: Organo Ufficiale, Societa Italiana di Dermatologia e Sifilografia, 151(1), 32–36.

Tietz, H. J., Hay, R., Querner, S., Delcker, A., Kurka, P., Merk, H. F. (2013). Efficacy of 4 weeks topical bifonazole treatment for onychomycosis after nail ablation with 40% urea: a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled multicenter study. Mycoses, 56(4), 414–421. https://doi.org/10.1111/myc.12037

Pandhi, D., Verma, P. (2012). Nail avulsion: indications and methods (surgical nail avulsion). Indian journal of dermatology, venereology and leprology, 78(3), 299–308. https://doi.org/10.4103/0378-6323.95444

Falotico, J. M., Lapides, R., Lipner, S. R. (2022). Combination therapy should be reserved as second-line treatment of onychomycosis: a systematic review of onychomycosis clinical trials. Journal of Fungi, 8(3), 279. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8030279

Navarro-Bielsa, A., Gracia-Cazaña, T., Robres, P., Lopez, C., Calvo-Priego, M. D., Aspiroz, C., Gilaberte, Y. (2022). Combination of photodynamic therapy and oral antifungals for the treatment of onychomycosis. Pharmaceuticals, 15(6), 722. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15060722

Anderson, E., Li, J., Zagorsk, J. (2022). Trending – Nail Polish. Center for Research on Ingredient Safety. Michigan State University. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/trending-nail-polish

State Enterprise «Ukrainian Research and Training Center for Standardization, Certification and Quality» (2019). [Cosmetics. Guidelines for determining the stability of cosmetic products]. (DSTU ISO/TR 18811:2019).

Kachan, R. V., Bessarabov, V. I., Kuzmina, G. I., Lisovyi, V. M. (2024). [Simulation of the application of polymer composite materials with fungicidal action for the prevention and treatment of onychomycosis]. Journal of Chemistry and Technologies, 32(3), 706–717. (in Ukrainian) https://doi.org/10.15421/jchemtech.v32i3.305932

Vrynchanu, N. O., Burmaka, O. V., Dronova, M. L., Dudikova, D. M., Suvorova, Z. S. (2018). [Study of specific activity of antifungal drugs, methodological recommendations]. Kyiv: Ministerstvo okhorony zdorovia Ukrainy, DP «Derzhavnyi ekspertnyi tsentr MOZ Ukrainy» (in Ukrainian).

Published

2025-10-19