Recent Advances and Perspectives in Liposomes for Cutaneous Drug Delivery

Abstract

The cutaneous route is attractive for the delivery of drugs in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. However the stratum corneum (SC) is an effective barrier that hampers skin penetration. Within this context, liposomes emerge as a potential carrier for improving topical delivery of therapeutic agents. In this review, we aimed to discuss key aspects for the topical delivery by drug-loaded liposomes. Phospholipid type and phase transition temperature have been shown to affect liposomal topical delivery. The effect of surface charge is subject to considerable variation depending on drug and composition. In addition, modified vesicles with the presence of components for permeation enhancement, such as surfactants and solvents, have been shown to have a considerable effect. These liposomes include: Transfersomes, Niosomes, Ethosomes, Transethosomes, Invasomes, coated liposomes, penetration enhancer containing vesicles (PEVs), fatty acids vesicles, Archaeosomes and Marinosomes. Furthermore, adding polymeric coating onto liposome surface could influence cutaneous delivery. Mechanisms of delivery include intact vesicular skin penetration, free drug diffusion, permeation enhancement, vesicle adsorption to and/or fusion with the SC, trans-appendageal penetration, among others. Finally, several skin conditions, including acne, melasma, skin aging, fungal infections and skin cancer, have benefited from liposomal topical delivery of drugs, with promising in vitro and in vivo results. However, despite the existence of some clinical trials, more studies are needed to be conducted in order to explore the potential of liposomes in the dermatological field.

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“…Liposomes are phospholipid-based vesicular systems that have been extensively explored for skin delivery of various drugs [24,25]. Liposomes are able to encapsulate a wide range of drugs, including hydrophilic and hydrophobic ones, and enhance their delivery through the skin.…”

Improvement of a slimming cream's efficacy using a novel fabric as a transdermal drug delivery system: An in�vivo and in�vitro study

“…Human skin has many unique properties, including its function as a physicochemical barrier. This property protects the body from dangerous pathogens however, it also complicates the delivery of therapeutic agents and resists the penetration of a number of molecules (1). Skin penetration follows the '500 Dalton rule', therefore, it is difficult for hydrophilic therapeutic molecules of large molecular weight to penetrate the normal skin barrier (2).…”

Development and Percutaneous Permeation Study of Escinosomes, Escin-Based Nanovesicles Loaded with Berberine Chloride

“…Some molecules can impart deformability or elasticity to the bilayer membrane of nanosized liposomes, resulting in markedly improved drug permeability through the skin by several orders of magnitude [7][8][9]. Besides yielding a deeper penetration through skin, nanovesicles can effectively protect the drug against the environment, retain the drug in the target tissue, reduce systemic absorption and minimize side effects [10].…”

“…Conversely, conventional liposomes composed of pure or mixtures of phospholipid(s) and cholesterol generally accumulate in the stratum corneum and in the skin appendages, with negligible permeation through deeper skin layers, because of their low flexibility, as reported by most of the literature [4][5][6]. Some molecules can impart deformability or elasticity to the bilayer membrane of nanosized liposomes, resulting in markedly improved drug permeability through the skin by several orders of magnitude [7][8][9]. Besides yielding a deeper penetration through skin, nanovesicles can effectively protect the drug against the environment, retain the drug in the target tissue, reduce systemic absorption and minimize side effects [10].…”