pH Stimulus-Responsive Hybrid Nanoparticles: A System Designed for Follicular Delivery of Brazilian Plant-Derived 5-Alpha-Reductase Enzyme Inhibitors
December 2023
in “
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
”
pH-stimulus-responsive nanoparticles hybrid nanoparticles silica natural polymers chitosan sodium alginate Stryphnodendron adstringens extract 5-alpha-reductase enzyme inhibitors androgenetic alopecia hirsutism acne hair follicle Layer-by-Layer method zeta potential measurements 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors hair loss silica nanoparticles chitosan nanoparticles sodium alginate nanoparticles
TLDR New nanoparticles deliver plant extracts to hair follicles to treat conditions like hair loss and acne.
The study developed a new treatment for disorders like hirsutism, acne, and androgenetic alopecia using hybrid pH-stimulus-responsive nanoparticles. These nanoparticles, made from silica and natural polymers (chitosan or sodium alginate), encapsulated a semipurified fraction of Stryphnodendron adstringens extract, known to inhibit the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme activity, a key player in these disorders. The nanoparticles were designed to release the active species in response to the hair follicle's pH gradient, providing targeted, on-demand treatment. The Layer-by-Layer method was used to produce the nanoparticles, confirmed by zeta potential measurements. This approach could be an alternative to traditional therapies, which often have limited efficacy and potential adverse effects.
