Microencapsulation of Poorly Water-Soluble Finasteride in Polyvinyl Alcohol/Chitosan Microspheres as a Long-Term Sustained Release System for Potential Embolization Applications

Topical finasteride in a liposomal formulation reduces systemic absorption compared to ethanol solutions. The user is seeking sources for such products, noting that popular options like morr-f are not liposomal.

OP is trying to dissolve finasteride powder for a topical solution but faces issues with it not dissolving properly in ethanol or water. Users suggest methods like using a magnetic stirrer, shaking the mixture, or filtering out fillers, with some noting that finasteride is soluble in alcohol.

Topical finasteride may have higher systemic absorption and lower efficacy when using a Propylene Glycol/Ethanol formulation compared to the hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH) formulation. The safety profile of topical finasteride relies heavily on the HPCH formulation, and using standard solutions might lead to different pharmacokinetics.

A peptide-based delivery system for finasteride shows promise in reducing systemic side effects while maintaining hair growth effectiveness. Combining this with other treatments like minoxidil and RU58841 could enhance results with lower systemic absorption.

The conversation is about using distilled water as a solvent for topical finasteride to reduce systemic absorption. The user is considering avoiding ethanol and propylene glycol to achieve this.

Ethosomes are suggested as an effective delivery method for topical finasteride solutions, requiring the addition of a phospholipid like soya lecithins. The user questions why do-it-yourself solutions don't commonly use ethosomes despite their potential benefits.