TLDR Finasteride delivery through skin improved using invasomes and iontophoresis.
The study investigated the use of invasomal carriers and iontophoresis for transdermal delivery of finasteride, a drug used for hair loss treatment. The researchers optimized the invasomal formulation and iontophoretic conditions and found that the combined effect of invasomes and iontophoresis can enhance the transdermal delivery of finasteride. In vivo studies on rabbits showed that the invasomal formulation had a higher flux and enhancement ratio compared to the control, and the transdermal gel had a higher relative bioavailability compared to the oral suspension. The study concluded that iontophoretic transdermal delivery of finasteride in vesicular invasomal carriers could be a promising alternative to oral administration.
128 citations
,
July 2009 in “International Journal of Pharmaceutics” PEVs improve minoxidil skin penetration, increasing hair growth.
25 citations
,
October 2008 in “Chromatographia” 
84 citations
,
July 2008 in “Aaps Pharmscitech” Ethosomes improve finasteride delivery through skin for hair loss treatment.
127 citations
,
June 2006 in “International Journal of Pharmaceutics” Liposomes and niosomes improve finasteride delivery for hair loss treatment.
3 citations
,
March 2005 in “Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” The study investigated the use of liposomes and niosomes to enhance the concentration of finasteride in the dermis layer, which could aid in treating androgen-related skin disorders. Using hamster flank skin, the researchers found that drug-containing vesicles had an 80-97% drug entrapment efficiency. After 24 hours, 5.5-13% of finasteride penetrated the skin with vesicles, compared to 24% with a hydroalcoholic solution. DMPC liposomes resulted in the highest dermis concentration (7.8%). Vesicles significantly reduced drug permeation compared to the hydroalcoholic solution, demonstrating their potential to increase finasteride retention in the dermis.
15 citations
,
February 2013 in “Pharmaceutical nanotechnology” Finasteride delivery through skin improved using invasomes and iontophoresis.
