AUTHOR=Tapfumaneyi Pronalis , Imran Mohammad , Mohammed Yousuf , Roberts Michael S. TITLE=Recent advances and future prospective of topical and transdermal delivery systems JOURNAL=Frontiers in Drug Delivery VOLUME=2 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/drug-delivery/articles/10.3389/fddev.2022.957732 DOI=10.3389/fddev.2022.957732 ISSN=2674-0850 ABSTRACT=

Recent advances in topical and transdermal drug delivery systems have enabled targeted delivery of therapeutics to the site of action by enhancing drug permeation across the stratum corneum and increased bioavailability. Despite various technological advancements, some dermatoses still have limited treatment options due to potential adverse effects and challenges in formulation development. To address some of the limitations posed by conventional dermatotherapy, nano-based technologies have been developed and have demonstrated a significant improvement in dermatotherapy. Their distinct physicochemical properties demonstrate their overall superior therapeutic efficacy in providing sustained and effective targeted drug release, as well as improved solubility of hydrophobic actives with optimized drug formulations. These nanocarriers are commonly classified as polymeric, lipid-based, metallic, and vesicular nanocarriers, including nanoemulsions, nanofibers, and microneedles. This mini-review aims to address recent advances in nano-based technologies, providing a brief insight on some of the current and prospective technologies and approaches aimed at improving transdermal delivery.