Liposomes and Other Nanocarriers for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: Improved Therapeutic Efficacy and Skin Tolerability

February 2024 in “ Pharmaceutics ”

Nina Dragičević, Howard I. Maïbach

liposomes nanocarriers phospholipid-based nanocarriers acne vulgaris retinoids antibiotics nanotechnology vesicles acne nanotech

Studysummary This article outlines how nanotechnology strategies, including phospholipid-based nanocarriers like liposomes, could enhance the effectiveness and skin tolerability of acne treatments, aiming to reduce side effects and improve patient compliance in managing acne vulgaris.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The document reviews the use of liposomes and other nanocarriers in treating acne vulgaris, emphasizing their ability to enhance therapeutic efficacy and skin tolerability. These nanocarriers improve drug penetration, stability, and reduce side effects, offering a promising alternative to conventional treatments. Clinical studies, including one with 73 patients, demonstrated that liposomal formulations, such as clindamycin-loaded liposomes, were more effective and better tolerated than traditional solutions. Various nanocarriers, including niosomes and invasomes, showed improved drug delivery and reduced irritation, suggesting that these advanced delivery systems could significantly improve acne management by enhancing drug delivery, reducing side effects, and increasing patient compliance.

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research Guidelines of Care for the Management of Acne Vulgaris

5 citations , January 2024 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This study provided 18 evidence-based recommendations for managing acne vulgaris, strongly endorsing treatments like benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, and oral isotretinoin for severe cases, and issued conditional recommendations for therapies like salicylic acid and spironolactone, while offering good practice statements on combining treatment methods.

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16 citations , November 2023 in “Scientific Reports”

This study developed a niosomal delivery system loaded with tretinoin and bicalutamide, optimized for follicular targeting in acne management, showing promising accumulation in hair follicles in animal models.

research Hair Follicle-Targeting Drug Delivery Strategies for the Management of Hair Follicle-Associated Disorders

14 citations , May 2022 in “Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences”

This review article highlights how hair follicle-targeting drug delivery systems enhance therapeutic outcomes and reduce side effects for treating conditions like androgenetic alopecia and acne vulgaris. The authors discuss current formulations and evaluate their performance in both preclinical and clinical settings.

A Liposome-Based Formulation Containing Equol, Dihomo-γ-Linolenic Acid, and Propionyl-L-Carnitine to Prevent and Treat Hair Loss: A Prospective Investigation

research A Liposome-Based Formulation Containing Equol, Dihomo-γ-Linolenic Acid, and Propionyl-L-Carnitine to Prevent and Treat Hair Loss: A Prospective Investigation

10 citations , October 2018 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

In this study, researchers tested lotions containing DGLA, S-equol, and propionyl-l-carnitine on individuals with androgenic alopecia, noting a significant increase in hair count for women and a marginal increase for men after 6 months, along with improved hair cycle dynamics.

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50 citations , December 2017 in “Nanoscale”

This study found that polymeric micelle formulations significantly improved the targeted delivery of adapalene to hair follicles compared to standard Differin® products, which suggests potential advantages in treating hair follicle-related conditions and reducing side effects.

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40 citations , November 2017 in “International journal of nanomedicine”

In this study, the researchers reported that chloramphenicol-loaded liposomes, particularly those incorporating deoxycholic acid, enhanced follicular uptake and showed strong antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, offering potential for treating MRSA-infected skin conditions with good skin biocompatibility and minimal toxicity.

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research Mechanistic Analysis of Human Skin Distribution and Follicular Targeting of Adapalene-Loaded Biodegradable Nanospheres With Insight Into Hydrogel Matrix Influence, In Vitro Skin Irritation, and In Vivo Tolerability

17 citations , June 2017 in “Journal of pharmaceutical sciences”

This study found that adapalene-loaded nanospheres in a hyaluronic acid gel enhanced skin penetration and were nonirritant, making them potentially suitable for treating acne on oily skin.

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42 citations , August 2016 in “Nanomedicine”

In this study, TyroSpheres were used to encapsulate adapalene, increasing its solubility and enhancing skin distribution while reducing irritancy compared to a commercial formulation, indicating promise for acne treatment in ex vivo and in vitro settings.

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27 citations , September 2015 in “Drug development and industrial pharmacy”

This study demonstrated that adapalene encapsulated in liposomes significantly improved drug delivery to hair follicles compared to gel and drug solution, potentially targeting acne treatment more effectively.

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59 citations , July 2015 in “Journal of innovative optical health sciences/Journal of innovation in optical health science”

This review examines the potential of nanoparticles for localized drug delivery via hair follicles but reports no new clinical results, with the authors noting a lack of commercial development despite research progress.

Development, Formulation, and Characterization of an Adapalene-Loaded Solid Lipid Microparticle Dispersion for Follicular Penetration

research Development, Formulation, and Characterization of an Adapalene-Loaded Solid Lipid Microparticle Dispersion for Follicular Penetration

26 citations , March 2014 in “International journal of pharmaceutics”

This study confirmed that the novel solid lipid microparticle formulation of adapalene demonstrated follicular penetration potential and targeted particle erosion in sebum in in vitro tests.

Selective Induction of Apoptosis in the Hamster Flank Sebaceous Gland Organ by a Topical Liposome 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor: A Treatment Strategy for Acne

research Selective Induction of Apoptosis in the Hamster Flank Sebaceous Gland Organ by a Topical Liposome 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor: A Treatment Strategy for Acne

8 citations , February 2010 in “Journal of Dermatology”

This study observed that a topical liposome formulation of a 5‐α‐reductase inhibitor effectively reduced the size of treated sebaceous glands and induced apoptosis in a hamster model, suggesting potential benefits for acne treatment.

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65 citations , April 2007 in “Chemistry and Physics of Lipids”

This study found that incorporating steroid hormones into DPPC liposomes altered their physicochemical properties, including size, zeta potential, and phase transition temperatures.

Tea Tree Oil Concentration in Follicular Casts After Topical Delivery: Determination by High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography Using a Perfused Bovine Udder Model

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32 citations , November 2004 in “Journal of pharmaceutical sciences”

This study quantifies the follicular uptake of tea tree oil in bovine udder skin, with microemulsion showing the highest concentration among different formulations tested.