Assessment of drug permeation from lipid nanoparticles formulated with a novel structured lipid matrix through artificial skin construct bio-engineered from HDF and HaCaT cell lines

The Contest of Nanoparticles: Searching for the Most Effective Topical Delivery of Corticosteroids

Owing to their complicated pathophysiology, the treatment of skin diseases necessitates a complex approach. Conventional treatment using topical corticosteroids often results in low effectiveness and the incidence of local or even systemic side effects. Nanoformulation of potent anti-inflammatory drugs has been selected as an optimal strategy for enhanced topical delivery of corticosteroids. In order to assess the efficiency of various nanoformulations, we formulated hydrocortisone (HC) and hydrocortisone-17-butyrate (HCB) into three different systems: lipid nanocapsules (LNC), polymeric nanoparticles (PNP), and ethosomes (ETZ). The systems were characterized using dynamic light scattering for their particle size and uniformity and the morphology of nanoparticles was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The nanosystems were tested using ex vivo full thickness porcine and human skin for the delivery of HC and HCB. The skin penetration was observed by confocal microscopy of fluorescently labelled nanosystems. ETZ were proposed as the most effective delivery system for both transdermal and dermal drug targeting but were also found to have a profound effect on the skin barrier with limited restoration. LNC and PNP were found to have significant effects in the dermal delivery of the actives with only minimal transdermal penetration, especially in case of HCB administration.

Lipid nanoparticles: state of the art, new preparation methods and challenges in drug delivery

INTRODUCTION

Nanoparticles are rapidly developing as drug carriers because of their size-dependent properties. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are widely employed in drug delivery because of the biocompatibility of the lipid matrix.

AREAS COVERED

Many different types of LNPs have been engineered in the last 20 years, the most important being solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostrucured lipid carriers (NLCs), lipid-drug conjugates (LDCs) and lipid nanocapsules (LNCs). This review gives an overview of LNPs, including their physico-chemical properties and pharmacological uses. Moreover, it highlights the most important innovations in the preparation techniques of LNPs, aimed to encapsulate different molecules within the lipid matrix. Finally, it gives a short perspective on the challenges of drug delivery, which are a potential field of application for LNPs: cancer therapy, overcoming the blood-brain barrier and gene and protein delivery.

EXPERT OPINION

LNPs are a safe and versatile vehicles for drug and active delivery, suitable for different administration routes. New technologies have been developed for LNP preparation and studies are currently underway in order to obtain the encapsulation of different drugs and to deliver the active molecule to the site of action.