Dermal delivery of drugs using different vesicular carriers: A comparative review

Novel drug delivery systems in topical treatment of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a chronic skin condition, affecting all ages, characterized by inflammation, itching, dryness, and redness, which can severely impact quality of life. Based on clinical features and symptoms, AD is of several types like contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, neurodermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, and nummular eczema. Its pathophysiology involves genetic, environmental, and immunological factors, leading to skin barrier dysfunction. Current treatments for AD involve a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies tailored to individual needs. Management includes topical therapies of corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and janus kinase inhibitors in the form of gels, creams, ointments, and lotions. Systemic treatments like immunosuppressants and biologics are employed for severe cases. Long term and regular use of current treatments can lead to numerous adverse effects like skin thinning, atrophy, burning sensation, emergence of skin lymphomas, tolerance, and systemic side effects. Emerging topical nanoformulations, such as lipid-based nanoparticles, polymeric carriers, liposomes, cubosomes, ethosomes, nanoemulsions enhance drug delivery, improve therapeutic outcomes, and reduce toxicity, making them promising options for AD treatment. Clinical trials of nanoformulations for AD show significant improvements in treatment efficacy and skin absorption compared to conventional therapies. However, nanomedicine faces challenges in terms of inadequate evaluation studies and formulation instability, requiring stringent regulatory compliance and a thorough preclinical and clinical data investigation. This review aims to describe types of AD, its pathophysiology and current treatments and their challenges. The review further focuses on emerging trends of various nanoformulations for treatment of AD.

A Systematic Review of Spironolactone Nano-Formulations for Topical Treatment of Skin Hyperandrogenic Disorders and Chronic Wounds

Background/Objectives: Spironolactone (SP), an aldosterone inhibitor widely used to treat androgen-dependent disorders such as acne, hirsutism, and alopecia, has demonstrated therapeutic potential in both oral and topical formulations. However, SP's low solubility and poor bioavailability in conventional formulations have driven the development of novel nanocarriers to enhance its efficacy. This review systematically examines recent advancements in SP-loaded nanocarriers, including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), vesicular nanoparticles (VNPs), polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs), and nanofibers (NFs). Methods: A search strategy was developed, and the relevant literature was systematically searched using databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The review process, including screening, inclusion, and exclusion criteria, adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: A comprehensive analysis of 13 eligible research articles, corresponding to 15 studies, highlights key aspects such as encapsulation efficiency, stability, particle size, and in vitro and in vivo efficacy. Six studies focused on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), including solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), which were found to improve SP's bioavailability and skin permeation. Another six studies investigated vesicular nanoparticles (VNPs), such as ethosomes and niosomes, demonstrating superior skin targeting and penetration capabilities. Two studies on polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) showed effectiveness in delivering SP to hair follicles for the treatment of alopecia and acne. Additionally, one study on SP-loaded nanofibers indicated significant potential for topical rosacea therapy. Conclusions: SP-loaded nanocarrier systems represent promising advancements in targeted topical therapy. However, further clinical studies are required to optimize their safety, efficacy, and delivery mechanisms.

Nano intervention in topical delivery of corticosteroid for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis-a systematic review

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis are highly prevalent, complex, chronic inflammatory skin diseases that immensly affect the patient's quality of life. While there is no definitive cure for these conditions, suppressive medications aim at managing the symptoms of these diseases. The application of emollients accompanied by symptomatic anti-inflammatory therapy consisting of topical corticosteroids (TCS) is extensively employed for controlling the symptoms among general practitioners making this therapeutic class an indispensable pillar of dermatotherapeutics. The first TCS, hydrocortisone (HC) introduced in the early 1950s led to the development of different steroidal moieties of varying potencies by inducing chemical modifications to the basic steroid structure. The wide spectrum of the available range of formulations and potency provides flexibility to treat all patient groups, different phases of the diseases, and different anatomical sites. Conventional TCS therapy suffers from drawbacks such as low drug permeation and retention rate. Thus, novel nanoformulations have been developed to overcome these problems. This review provides an insight into the current state of nanocarrier-mediated topical delivery of corticosteroids monotherapy and combination therapy with special emphasis on targeting psoriasis and AD.

Targeted Drug Delivery - From Magic Bullet to Nanomedicine: Principles, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Nanomedicine is an advanced version of Paul Ehrlich's "magic bullet" concept. Targeted drug delivery is a system of specifying the drug moiety directly into its targeted body area (organ, cellular, and subcellular level of specific tissue) to overcome the aspecific toxic effect of conventional drug delivery, thereby reducing the amount of drug required for therapeutic efficacy. To achieve this objective, the magic bullet concept was developed and pushed scientists to investigate for more than a century, leading to the envisioning of different nanometer-sized devices - today's nanomedicine. Different carrier systems are being used and investigated, which include colloidal (vesicular and multiparticulate) carriers, polymers, and cellular/subcellular systems. This review addresses the need for and advantages of targeting, with its basic principles, strategies, and carrier systems. Recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives are also highlighted.

Vesicles: Potential nano carriers for the delivery of skin cosmetics

In the present scenario, consumers are searching for personal care products that supply multiple benefits with minimal efforts. The outcome has been the introduction of nanotechnology-based cosmetic products that are safe to use and results driven. Some topical cosmetics can act efficaciously when they reach their target sites present in the deeper layers of the skin. The main problem with delivering active ingredients across the skin is the barrier function of the skin. Therefore, to get the maximum benefit from cosmetic products and to overcome the problems associated with their skin penetration, scientists are investigating various strategies to overcome these barrier properties. Vesicular carriers have been claimed to improve the topical delivery of active ingredients. This review offers a brief overview of current approaches in the research and development of vesicular carriers to improve the delivery and performance of active ingredients present in the cosmetics.