Chapter 15 - Dendrimers for skin delivery of cosmeceuticals

Abstract

Today, nanoparticles are being used widely as systemic drug delivery via the skin. The dendrimers are emerging as the new-generation nanoparticle in the skin delivery system, especially in pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals which contain biologically active ingredients with drug-like bioactivity. The penetration issue of the bioactive drug molecules into the skin is overcome by the use of dendrimer nanoparticles. With the unique properties of dendrimers such as their size, the high degree of branching architecture, and their biocompatibility, it is considered ideal for active excipients. The physicochemical characteristic of dendrimers and its versatility of structural modification and terminal functionality allow its broad range of utilization. Due to the compact globular structure and availability of interior void space along with multiple surface area that is available for the functional groups, active drug molecules can be encapsulated in the interior space by physical encapsulation and a functional group can be attached to the surface by covalent conjugation. These nanosized dendrimers have great potential abilities in entrapping and conjugating higher molecular weight entities which efficiently function as a skin delivery of cosmeceuticals. There are several dendrimer-based delivery systems that have been reported and patented so far. This chapter describes the different strategies of dendrimer synthesis and its properties, which render them as a promising agent for drug delivery application in several cosmeceutical formulations. The chapter will also provide a brief description of the interaction of inactive drug-dendrimer complex and different factors affecting the delivery of dendrimer in tropical application along with its safety aspects and applications in cosmeceutical, as well as future projections in the area.