Preparation and characterization of triclosan nanoparticles intended to be used for the treatment of acne

Abstract

This work focuses on the preparation and characterization of nanoparticles containing triclosan. Additionally, in vitro percutaneous permeation of triclosan through pig ear skin was performed, and comparisons were made with two commercial formulations: An o/w emulsion and a solution, intended for the treatment of acne. The nanoparticle suspensions were prepared by the emulsification–diffusion by solvent displacement method, using Eudragit® E 100 as polymer. All batches showed a size smaller than 300 nm and a positive Zeta potential, high enough (20–40 mV) to ensure a good physical stability. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies suggested that triclosan was molecularly dispersed in the nanoparticle batches containing up to 31% of triclosan, with good encapsulation efficiency (95.9%). The results of the in vitro permeation studies showed the following order for the permeability coefficients: Solution > cream ≈ nanoparticles; while for the amount retained in the skin, the order was as follows: cream > nanoparticles ≈ solution. Nanoparticles, being free of surfactants or other potentially irritant agents, can be a good option for the delivery of triclosan to the skin, representing a good alternative for the treatment of acne.