Enhanced nail delivery of voriconazole-loaded nanomicelles by thioglycolic acid pretreatment: A study of protein dynamics and disulfide bond rupture

[Display omitted] •Voriconazole (VOR)-loaded nanomicelles were developed and characterized.•Penetration enhancers were selected by studying protein dynamics and bond rupture.•Raman studies showed that thioglycolic acid affected protein secondary structure.•Nanomicelles increased VOR permeation compared to previous studies.•Thioglycolic acid was the best permeation enhancer increasing VOR permeation 3-folds. This work aimed to select an effective penetration enhancer (PE) for nail pretreatment, develop voriconazole (VOR)-loaded nanomicelles, and evaluate their ability to deliver VOR to the nail. A complete analysis of nail protein dynamics, bond rupture, and microstructure was performed. Alternative methods as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and the Ellman's reagent (DTNB) assay were also evaluated. Nanomicelles were produced and characterized. The PE hydrated the hooves, following the order: urea ≈ cysteine ≈ glycolic acid