To increase percutaneous drug absorption

Enhancing Percutaneous Drug Absorption Using Nanotechnology

Percutaneous drug absorption, also known as drug delivery through the skin, is a viable option for administering medications to patients. This method of delivery offers numerous advantages, including localized drug delivery with prolonged effects, avoidance of first-pass metabolism, elimination of injection-related pain, and improved patient compliance. However, in order for the drug to be successfully delivered via the skin, a number of factors must be considered.

Nanotechnology has revolutionized the process of percutaneous drug absorption by allowing for the development of specialized particles and formulations that can target specific sites and pathways in the skin for drug uptake. In addition, nanomaterials have been used to enhance the permeation of poorly-absorbed drugs and to reduce the potential for adverse skin reactions. In this article, we discuss the use of nanomaterials in drug delivery, specifically in the context of enhancing percutaneous drug absorption.

Nanoparticles and Their Uses in Percutaneous Drug Absorption

Nanoparticles refer to particles with sizes between 1 and 100 nanometers. These particles are advantageous for the delivery of drugs, as they have excellent stability, high loaded capacity, improved drug dissolution, and improved absorption of drugs into the skin. The surface of nanoparticles can also be modified for targeted drug delivery, thereby improving the bioavailability of therapeutic agents.

The use of nanoparticles to reduce the size of drug molecules and improve their permeation into the skin has been explored for a variety of applications, including enhanced percutaneous drug absorption. Drug nanocrystal formulations, for example, have been found to enhance the bioavailability of orally administered drugs. Nanoparticles have also been successfully used in transdermal delivery systems to improve the delivery of drugs to the skin.

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Enhancing Percutaneous Drug Absorption

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are structures consisting of lipids and polymers that are amenable to coatings, thereby allowing drug molecules to be encapsulated within the structure. NLCs have recently been investigated for their utility in percutaneous drug absorption, with promising results. For example, in one study, researchers found that NLCs improved the delivery of a model drug, ceftriaxone, through the skin. The study also showed that NLCs enhanced the delivery of the drug to the systemic circulation.

Liposomes and Percutaneous Drug Absorption

Liposomes are vesicles consisting of an aqueous core surrounded by lipid bilayer membranes. It is thought that liposomes reduce drug permeation barriers, thereby increasing the permeation of drugs into the skin. Furthermore, liposomes are able to form composite formulations with other drugs and nanomaterials, which can result in enhanced drug delivery. In one study, liposome-based formulations were found to improve the delivery of a model drug, loperamide, through the skin.

Conclusion

Recent advances in nanotechnology have enabled the development of novel materials and formulations that can be used to enhance the delivery of drugs through the skin. Nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and liposomes have all been studied for their ability to improve percutaneous drug absorption. These nanomaterials have the potential to enhance drug delivery and improve patient compliance.