Key characteristics and modelling of bigels systems: A review

Ahmad Shakeel; Ujala Farooq; Tanveer Iqbal; Saima Yasin; Francesca R Lupi; Domenico Gabriele

doi:10.1016/j.msec.2018.12.075

Key characteristics and modelling of bigels systems: A review

Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2019 Apr:97:932-953. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.12.075. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Authors

Ahmad Shakeel¹, Ujala Farooq², Tanveer Iqbal³, Saima Yasin⁴, Francesca R Lupi⁵, Domenico Gabriele⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical, Polymer & Composite Materials Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, KSK Campus, Lahore 54890, Pakistan; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Rivers, Ports, Waterways and Dredging Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, the Netherlands. Electronic address: a.shakeel@tudelft.nl.
² Department of Chemical, Polymer & Composite Materials Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, KSK Campus, Lahore 54890, Pakistan. Electronic address: ujala_farooq@yahoo.com.
³ Department of Chemical, Polymer & Composite Materials Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, KSK Campus, Lahore 54890, Pakistan. Electronic address: tanveer@uet.edu.pk.
⁴ Department of Chemical, Polymer & Composite Materials Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, KSK Campus, Lahore 54890, Pakistan. Electronic address: drsaima@uet.edu.pk.
⁵ Department of Information, Modeling, Electronics and System Engineering (D.I.M.E.S.), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 39C, I-87036 Rende, CS, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.lupi@unical.it.
⁶ Department of Information, Modeling, Electronics and System Engineering (D.I.M.E.S.), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 39C, I-87036 Rende, CS, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.gabriele@unical.it.

PMID: 30678982
DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.12.075

Abstract

Bigels are interesting semisolid formulations with better properties for different applications such as cosmetics and pharmaceutical systems. Due to the mixing of two phases of different nature (polar and apolar), bigels possess some interesting features like ability to deliver hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, better spreadability and water washability, improved permeability of drugs, enhanced hydration of stratum corneum and ability to manipulate the drug release rate. The main objective of this review article is to provide a thorough insight into the important characteristics of bigels together with the discussion on modelling of bigel systems to relate their properties with individual constituents and different parameters. Moreover, some important applications of bigels are also discussed by considering some examples from the literature.

Keywords: Bigels; Cosmetics; Drug delivery; Hydrogels; Modelling; Organogels.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cosmetics
Drug Carriers / chemistry
Elastic Modulus
Electric Conductivity
Gels / chemistry*
Hydrogels / chemistry
Models, Theoretical*
Plant Oils / chemistry

Substances

Cosmetics
Drug Carriers
Gels
Hydrogels
Plant Oils