Nanocarriers for Skin Applications: Where Do We Stand?

Abstract

Skin penetration of active molecules for treatment of diverse diseases is a major field of research owing to the advantages associated with the skin like easy accessibility, reduced systemic‐derived side effects, and increased therapeutic efficacy. Despite these advantages, dermal drug delivery is generally challenging due to the low skin permeability of therapeutics. Although various methods have been developed to improve skin penetration and permeation of therapeutics, they are usually aggressive and could lead to irreversible damage to the stratum corneum. Nanosized carrier systems represent an alternative approach for current technologies, with minimal damage to the natural barrier function of skin. In this Review, the use of nanoparticles to deliver drug molecules, genetic material, and vaccines into the skin is discussed. In addition, nanotoxicology studies and the recent clinical development of nanoparticles are highlighted to shed light on their potential to undergo market translation.

Advanced nanocarrier- and microneedle-based transdermal drug delivery strategies for skin diseases treatment

“…The skin penetration efficiency of nanocarriers is a key parameter for determining their transdermal treatment outcomes. The physicochemical properties of nanocarriers such as hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, size, shape, deformability, and surface charges have been shown to affect their penetration in highly complex skin by modulating the nano-skin interactions 41 . Thus, exploring and understanding the nano-skin interactions is crucial for the successful clinical applications of nanocarriers in many skin diseases.…”

Exposure to nanoparticles and occupational allergy

“…Nanoparticles can pass the intact skin barrier via three main pathways: intracellular, intercellular and follicular [71] (Fig. 3).…”

“…3). Amphiphilic nanoparticles pass the skin by intracellular route [71]; size, mechanical properties, interference with tight junctions are essential for the intercellular route [72,73]; whereas the follicular route is the main way for metal nanoparticles [74]. Nanoparticles enter cells by endocytotic and nonendocytotic pathway gaining access to the cytoplasm [75] and reaching the nucleus [15].…”

Electrostatically optimized adapalene-loaded emulsion for the treatment of acne vulgaris

“…Over the last few decades, there has been significant progress in transdermal drug delivery as a means to facilitate the skin penetration of drugs [ [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] ]. Transdermal drug delivery has several advantages, including reduced side effects associated with gastrointestinal absorption and hepatic pass metabolism, as well as improved patient compliance.…”