pH-Triggered In-Situ Nasal Gel Systems for Migraine Therapy: A Review

Year : 2026 | Volume : 13 | 02 | Page :
    By

    Siya Vijaykumar Chawhan,

  • Sayali Manoj Sayare,

  • Rukmini Sankar Girhepunje,

  • Tilottama Moreshwar Gatkine,

  1. Student, Department of Pharmaceutics, Nagpur College of Pharmacy, Hingna, Wanadongri, 441110, Maharashtra, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Nagpur College of Pharmacy, Hingna, Wanadongri, 441110, Maharashtra, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Nagpur College of Pharmacy, Hingna, Wanadongri, 441110, Maharashtra, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Nagpur College of Pharmacy, Hingna, Wanadongri, 441110, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Intranasal drug delivery has gained considerable attention as a non-invasive route for delivering drugs to both systemic circulation and the central nervous system, particularly for the treatment of migraine. Traditional nasal formulations such as sprays and drops often show poor therapeutic performance due to rapid mucociliary clearance and limited retention within the nasal cavity. To overcome these challenges, in-situ gel systems have been designed, which transform from a liquid to a gel state under physiological conditions, thereby improving residence time and drug absorption. pH-responsive in-situ nasal gels are especially advantageous as they undergo gelation at the physiological pH of the nasal cavity, resulting in enhanced mucoadhesion and prolonged drug release. The present review provides a critical overview of recent developments (2020–2025) in pH-triggered nasal gel systems with particular relevance to migraine therapy. Special attention is given to herbal therapeutic agents such as ginger extract and peppermint oil, which possess notable anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. In addition, the capability of these systems to facilitate direct nose-to-brain drug transport via olfactory and trigeminal pathways is discussed, emphasizing their significance in improving brain targeting efficiency. Although these systems show promising potential, certain limitations such as formulation stability, variability in herbal components, and lack of extensive clinical validation still exist. Therefore, further research is required to fully establish their clinical applicability. Overall, pH-responsive in-situ nasal gels containing herbal actives offer a promising approach for effective migraine management. This review uniquely emphasizes the integration of herbal therapeutics such as ginger extract and peppermint oil with pH-triggered nasal gel systems, an area that remains relatively underexplored in current pharmaceutical research.

Keywords: Intranasal drug delivery, pH-responsive in-situ gel, Nose-to-brain delivery, Migraine therapy, Ginger extract, Peppermint oil, Mucoadhesive polymers.

How to cite this article:
Siya Vijaykumar Chawhan, Sayali Manoj Sayare, Rukmini Sankar Girhepunje, Tilottama Moreshwar Gatkine. pH-Triggered In-Situ Nasal Gel Systems for Migraine Therapy: A Review. Trends in Drug Delivery. 2026; 13(02):-.
How to cite this URL:
Siya Vijaykumar Chawhan, Sayali Manoj Sayare, Rukmini Sankar Girhepunje, Tilottama Moreshwar Gatkine. pH-Triggered In-Situ Nasal Gel Systems for Migraine Therapy: A Review. Trends in Drug Delivery. 2026; 13(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/tdd/article=2026/view=246697


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Ahead of Print Subscription Review Article
Volume 13
02
Received 01/06/2026
Accepted 12/06/2026
Published 14/06/2026
Publication Time 13 Days


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