Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation of Polymeric Enteric Nanoparticles as Dermal Carriers with pH-Dependent Targeting Potential

In a study from 2016, researchers developed pH-sensitive dexamethasone-loaded Eudragit® L 100 nanoparticles designed for controlled drug release on the skin and in hair follicles. These nanoparticles, ranging from 100–550 nm in size, were created using nanoprecipitation and exhibited high drug loading capacity (8.3%) and entrapment efficiency (85%). The formulation was found to be minimally toxic to human fibroblasts. The release of dexamethasone from the nanoparticles was dependent on the pH and buffer capacity of the surrounding medium, with extensive swelling and slow release in low buffer capacity and higher pH, and rapid erosion or dissolution at pH levels above 6.8 with a buffer capacity of 40 mM or higher. This indicates that these nanoparticles could effectively target drug delivery to the skin and hair follicles by responding to the pH environment.