Flutamide-Loaded Zein Nanocapsule Hydrogel: A Promising Dermal Delivery System for Pilosebaceous Unit Disorders

In 2018, researchers developed a flutamide (FLT)-loaded zein nanocapsule (ZNC) hydrogel for treating pilosebaceous unit disorders like acne and androgenic alopecia. The ZNCs, made using a nanoprecipitation method, showed suitable particle size, negative surface charge, and increased skin retention of FLT with lower permeation flux compared to other formulations. The study confirmed the follicular localization of the nanocapsules and found that Carbomer® hydrogel enhanced skin retention of FLT more effectively than chitosan gel. The FLT-loaded ZNC hydrogel, particularly with Carbomer® 934 at 0.8% concentration, demonstrated good spreadability, high drug retention, and was well-tolerated in vivo without skin irritation. The study concluded that this hydrogel system could be a promising, cost-effective, and biocompatible option for localized therapy of PSU disorders, potentially improving patient compliance by reducing application frequency. The significance of the findings was supported by a p-value ≤0.05.