Novel Drug Delivery Systems: Potential in Improving Topical Delivery of Antiacne Agents

Abstract

Acne is the most common cutaneous disorder of multifactorial origin with a prevalence of 70–85% in adolescents. The majority of the acne sufferers exhibit mild to moderate acne initially, which progresses to the severe form in certain cases. Topical therapy is employed as first-line treatment in mild acne, whereas for moderate and severe acne, systemic therapy is required in addition to topical therapy. Currently, several topical agents are available that affect at least one of the main pathogenetic factors responsible for the development of acne. Although topical therapy has an important position in acne treatment, side effects associated with various topical antiacne agents and the undesirable physicochemical characteristics of certain important agents like tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide affect their utility and patient compliance. Novel drug delivery strategies can play a pivotal role in improving the topical delivery of antiacne agents by enhancing their dermal localization with a concomitant reduction in their side effects. The current review emphasizes the potential of various novel drug delivery strategies like liposomes, niosomes, aspasomes, microsponges, microemulsions, hydrogels and solid lipid nanoparticles in optimizing and enhancing the topical delivery of antiacne agents.

Engineering of New UV-Blocking Hollow Proteinoid Nanoparticles of Narrow Size Distribution Containing All-trans Retinoic Acid for Biomedical Applications

“…Acne vulgaris is known as a multifactorial disease with various symptoms, including comedones, nodules, papules, cysts and pilosebaceous inflammation. Topical administration of at-RA can increase the turnover of follicular epithelial cells and facilitate comedolysis, thereby reducing acne symptoms and improving the skin appearance [5,6]. Moreover, at-RA can benefit the skin elasticity and moisture and mitigate fine wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen and elastin [7,8].…”

Formulation of Microemulsion Systems for Dermal Delivery of Silymarin

“…Moreover, they improve percutaneous penetration of drugs [7]. Oil and/or surfactant phases contribute to the potential enhancing effect of microemulsions rather than the specific microemulsion structure [8].…”

Corticosteroids for Skin Delivery: Challenges and New Formulation Opportunities

“…Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable, transparent, isotropic, low-viscosity colloidal dispersions consisting of microdomains of oil and/or water stabilized by an interfacial film of alternating surfactant and cosurfactant molecules [73]. Microemulsions are effective formulations for the dermal and transdermal delivery of particularly lipophilic compounds like TC because of their solubilizing properties and also their components may act as penetration enhancers [74,75].…”