Enhanced Skin Penetration of Finasteride Loaded DMSO-Liposomes for the Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia: Comparison with Conventional Liposomes

The study investigates the use of DMSO-modified liposomes to enhance the topical delivery of finasteride (FIN) for treating androgenic alopecia, aiming to reduce systemic side effects associated with long-term FIN use. DMSO-liposomes were prepared using a modified ethanol injection method and optimized through a quality by design approach. In a rat model of testosterone-induced alopecia, these liposomes demonstrated improved drug delivery, as evidenced by increased follicular density and anagen/telogen ratio compared to conventional FIN-liposomes and an alcoholic solution of FIN. The findings suggest that DMSO-liposomes could serve as effective skin delivery vehicles for FIN or similar drugs.