Hair Follicle Targeting With Curcumin Nanocrystals: Influence of Formulation Properties on Penetration Efficacy
January 2021
in “
Journal of Controlled Release
”
TLDR Curcumin nanocrystals in simple gels effectively penetrate hair follicles, but humectants can reduce this efficacy.
This study investigated the efficacy of curcumin nanocrystals (300 nm) in penetrating hair follicles using different gel formulations on an ex-vivo pig ear model. The nanocrystals effectively reached the lower part of the hair follicle infundibulum, an optimal region for drug delivery due to its permeability. The type of gel vehicle (oleogels or hydrogels) did not significantly affect follicular penetration, as all gels exhibited shear-thinning behavior, leading to similar penetration results. However, passive dermal penetration varied, with hydrogels containing humectants showing the best results. Notably, humectants reduced follicular penetration efficacy, suggesting that while nanocrystals in simple, shear-thinning gels are effective for follicle targeting, additional excipients like humectants may alter penetration profiles, warranting further research.