Understanding Microemulsions and Nanoemulsions in Transdermal Delivery

January 2025 in “ AAPS PharmSciTech ”

Jasmine Musakhanian, David W. Osborne

microemulsions nanoemulsions transdermal drug delivery skin permeation biological membranes mesostructures cosolvents non-ionic surfactants

Studysummary This review highlights the promising potential of microemulsions and nanoemulsions in (trans)dermal drug delivery, noting a gap in understanding their distinct mechanisms and composition-related effects on skin permeability, while emphasizing the limited clarity on mesostructures and cosolvent impacts. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

Microemulsions and nanoemulsions are promising vehicles for (trans)dermal drug delivery due to their ability to safely transport clinically relevant drug doses across biological membranes. Their effectiveness is largely attributed to their small dispersion size, which enhances skin permeation. However, the literature lacks clear distinctions between microemulsions and nanoemulsions regarding their definitions, behavior, and specific mechanisms of action. This review aims to deepen the understanding of these vehicles by examining their composition and the role of system constituents in affecting skin structures and drug permeability. It highlights the need for further exploration of mesostructures and the impact of cosolvents, oils, and water on permeation profiles, focusing on formulation systems using ternary diagrams with non-ionic surfactants and other common pharmaceutical components.

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