Drug Delivery with Topically Applied Nanoparticles: Science Fiction or Reality?

The document discussed the potential of nanoparticles as efficient carriers for drug delivery through the skin barrier, particularly highlighting their ability to penetrate deeply into hair follicles and be stored for several days. While flexible nanoparticles like liposomes had demonstrated efficacy, solid nanoparticles' penetration properties were still under investigation. There was no evidence that solid particles ≥40 nm could pass through healthy skin, and thus, no commercially available solid nanoparticle-based products for drug delivery through healthy skin existed at the time. Despite this, the prospects for clinical use were promising, with nanoparticles potentially designed to deliver drugs efficiently into hair follicles and release them upon specific triggers.