Nitrofurans for External Use (Review)

Abstract

Introduction. Aspects of the use of nitrofurans for external use (nitrofural, furazolidone and furazidin) are described in the article. Review of current research that is dedicated to development of drugs containing nitrofuran derivatives has been carried out. The prospects for creating dosage forms of furaсillin and furazolidone containing their solid dispersions with polymers are considered.Text. The group of nitrofurans is widely in demand in the modern pharmaceutical market. The most common active ingredients – furacillin, furazolidone and furazidin are represented by various dosage forms for both internal and external use. All nitrofuran derivatives have a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action and a specific mechanism of action on bacterial cells. The low level of development of antimicrobial resistance allows nitrofurans to remain one of the most effective chemotherapeutic groups of antimicrobial compounds for many decades. The review shows a numerous current developments carried out by both Russian and foreign authors about use of furacillin, furadonin and furazidin to develop the composition of new drugs, including combination drugs, as well as promising treatment methods. Currently, on the basis of Sechenov University, research is actively conducted to increase the solubility and dissolution rate of nitrofurans in water using the method of solid dispersions. Also, work is underway to develop the composition and technology of solid (instant) dosage forms granules and tablets, and soft dosage forms gels containing furacillin and furazolidone as active substances.Conclusion. Despite the use of active substances from the nitrofuran group in pharmaceutical practice for more than half a century and their low solubility in water, research on the development of complex drugs for external use and mono-preparations of nitrofurans have not lost their relevance and are actively conducted to this day.

Keywords

• nitrofurans
• nitrofural
• nitrofurazone
• furacillin
• furazolidone
• furazidin
• furagin
• solid dispersion