Innovative topical drug delivery systems

Innovative topical drug delivery systems

Oral presentation

Antonia Andonova, Petya Peneva, Margarita Kassarova
Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv

The challenges of innovative dermal forms are related to the delivery of hydrophilic and high molecular weight compounds through Stratum corneum (SC). This requires the development of methods for increasing penetration and percutaneous absorption, such as chemical, biochemical and physical methods. The chemical methods are based on three main mechanisms: the destruction of the high ordered bilayer lipid structure in SC, the interaction with epidermal keratin and the improvement of the drug distribution into the skin. Biochemical methods aim to directly increase the permeability of the SC lipid matrix and to alter the lipid metabolism, while physical approaches are combined using mechanical, electrical, magnetic or thermal energy to increase the penetration depth of drug substances and improve the rate of diffusion of drug molecules. The use of nanotechnology in pharmaceutical drug technology allows the penetration and percutaneous absorption of large molecules, peptides and hydrophilic substances, to be greatly improved. One of the most convenient methods is the use of vesicles as drug delivery systems. Vesicles are colloidal particles formed by concentric bilayers which are capable of including hydrophilic and hydrophobic drug substances. They are biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic. Also these carriers can prolong drug release, and increase penetration, providing better stability of active ingredients. In this review the main characteristics of vesicle systems such as liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, ufosomes, cubosomes and solid lipid nanoparticles are presented. In conclusion, the nanocarriers presented are promising drug delivery systems in dermal application forms.