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
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.