Targeting Potential of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Finasteride-Loaded Nano Lipidic Carriers-Infused Topical Gel: In Vitro and In Vivo Skin Permeation Studies
November 2023
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TLDR The new gel with Zinc Oxide nanoparticles and finasteride shows promise for treating hair loss when applied to the skin.
The study aimed to develop a novel formulation combining Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and finasteride-loaded Nano Lipidic Carriers (NLCs) for topical delivery in the treatment of androgenic alopecia. The ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated within a Carbopol gel, which was then evaluated for its physicochemical characteristics. The particle size of the nanoparticles was found to be 200 nm, and the gel had a pH of 6.13±2.11, viscosity of 35,845.3±6.97 cps at 5 rpm, and spreadability of 17.14±2.32. Ex vivo drug permeation and skin distribution studies on rat dorsal skin showed 25.763±0.2 μg/cm² and 19.375±1.2 μg/cm² of finasteride and ZnO in 12 hours respectively. The results suggest that the developed systems have potential for topical drug delivery in the treatment of androgenic alopecia.