Abstract
Transdermal delivery systems have been intensively studied over the past 2 decades, with the focus on overcoming the skin barrier for more effective application of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Although the cosmeceutical industry has made a substantial progress in the development and incorporation of new and effective actives in their products, the barrier function of the skin remains a limiting factor in the penetration and absorption of these actives. Enhancement via modification of the stratum corneum by hydration, acting of chemical enhancers on the structure of stratum corneum lipids, and partitioning and solubility effects are described. This review summarizes the advances in the development and mechanisms of action of chemical components that act as permeation enhancers, as well as the advances in appropriate vehicles, such as gels, emulsions, and vesicular delivery systems, that can be used for effective transdermal delivery.
Highlights
For thousands of years, people have applied various substances on their skin to obtain therapeutic effects, and in the modern era, various topical formulations have been developed to enhance the skin appearance and treat various conditions (Benson 2005)
The effects and mechanisms of several chemical enhancers are discussed, and we summarize the trends in the development of appropriate formulations for enhancing the permeation of active ingredients into the skin
The search continues for an ideal enhancer that is pharmacologically inactive, non-irritant, non-toxic, effective, and cosmetically acceptable (Pfister and Hsieh 1990)
Summary
People have applied various substances on their skin to obtain therapeutic effects, and in the modern era, various topical formulations have been developed to enhance the skin appearance and treat various conditions (Benson 2005). Effective penetration enhancers can increase transdermal drug delivery by (Alexander et al 2012) increasing the diffusion coefficient of the drug in the SC, (Anderson and Cassidy 1973) increasing the drug concentration in the vehicle, (Anton and Vandamme 2011) improving the partitioning between the drug formulation and the SC, and (Aqil et al 2007) decreasing the skin thickness, which is least likely (Williams and Barry, 2004). A study by Otto et al described how emulsifiers arranged in liquid crystalline structures in the water phase enhanced the skin penetration of active ingredients (Otto et al 2009). Liposomes are used in cosmetic applications or for transdermal delivery in particular with the expectation that their use will result in an increase in the concentration of active agents within the skin. A combination of two or more enhancers may, increase SC permeability but can increase the safety of the enhancers (Mitragotri 2000)
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