Development and Skin Penetration Pathway Evaluation Using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy of Microemulsions for Dermal Delivery Enhancement of Finasteride

December 2022 in “ Pharmaceutics ”

Thirapit Subongkot, Natthan Charernsriwilaiwat, Rattathammanoon Chanasongkram, Kantawat Rittem, Tanasait Ngawhirunpat, Praneet Opanasopit

finasteride microemulsions poloxamer 124 androgenetic alopecia particle size surface charge conductivity skin penetration confocal laser scanning microscopy transfollicular oleic acid viable epidermis dermis subcutaneous tissue Propecia CLSM

TLDR Finasteride-loaded microemulsions can effectively enhance skin delivery for treating hair loss.

The study developed finasteride-loaded microemulsions using poloxamer 124 to enhance dermal delivery for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Characterized by particle size, surface charge, and conductivity, these microemulsions significantly improved finasteride's solubility and skin penetration compared to a control solution. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that the primary skin penetration pathway was transfollicular. The formulation P2, with the smallest particle size (80.09 nm) and highest oleic acid content, showed the highest penetration into the viable epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. The study concluded that these microemulsions could be an effective topical treatment for AGA.

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