Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Loaded with 17-α-Estradiol Accumulate into Hair Follicles

The study developed a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) formulation to enhance 17-α-estradiol targeting for alopecia treatment. The NLCs had an average diameter of 96 ± 15 nm, a zeta potential of -17 ± 6 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 99.6 ± 0.3%. Over 42 days, the NLCs remained physically stable at room temperature. Dermal penetration studies using Franz diffusion cell and confocal microscopy revealed that the NLCs accumulated in the outer epidermis, particularly in hair follicles, indicating improved targeting of 17-α-estradiol.