Potential of Nanoparticles as Permeation Enhancers and Targeted Delivery Options for Skin: Advantages and Disadvantages

Abstract

The topical route of administration has many advantages for the treatment of various skin disorders as well as cosmeceutical purposes. This route bypasses hepatic first-pass effect and systemic availability of many pharmaceuticals is limited to skin organelles such as hair follicles and so could avoid unwanted adverse reactions and increase the localized therapeutic effect. Despite such attributed advantages of the topical route, the most important challenge is skin barrier characteristics that should be overcome to obtain dermal or trans-dermal drug delivery. Different approaches have been recruited to overcome this barrier. In this review, different types of nanoparticles for skin permeation enhancement and targeted delivery to skin organelles are discussed. The potential mechanisms of each nanocarrier in permeation enhancement and dermal delivery are considered and finally, the most important advantages and disadvantages of each group are summarized.

Keywords:

• nanoparticles
• skin permeation
• skin organelles
• topical drug delivery
• advantages
• disadvantages

Acknowledgment

Our special thanks go to Hassan Khajehei for language editing the manuscript.

Author Contributions

P.G. and S.M. made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the present project.