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Review
. 2022 Dec 15;23(24):15980.
doi: 10.3390/ijms232415980.

Nanoparticles for Topical Application in the Treatment of Skin Dysfunctions-An Overview of Dermo-Cosmetic and Dermatological Products

Magdalena Raszewska-Famielec  1 , Jolanta Flieger  2
Affiliations
Review

Nanoparticles for Topical Application in the Treatment of Skin Dysfunctions-An Overview of Dermo-Cosmetic and Dermatological Products

Magdalena Raszewska-Famielec et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Nanomaterials (NM) arouse interest in various fields of science and industry due to their composition-tunable properties and the ease of modification. They appear currently as components of many consumer products such as sunscreen, dressings, sports clothes, surface-cleaning agents, computer devices, paints, as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetics formulations. The use of NPs in products for topical applications improves the permeation/penetration of the bioactive compounds into deeper layers of the skin, providing a depot effect with sustained drug release and specific cellular and subcellular targeting. Nanocarriers provide advances in dermatology and systemic treatments. Examples are a non-invasive method of vaccination, advanced diagnostic techniques, and transdermal drug delivery. The mechanism of action of NPs, efficiency of skin penetration, and potential threat to human health are still open and not fully explained. This review gives a brief outline of the latest nanotechnology achievements in products used in topical applications to prevent and treat skin diseases. We highlighted aspects such as the penetration of NPs through the skin (influence of physical-chemical properties of NPs, the experimental models for skin penetration, methods applied to improve the penetration of NPs through the skin, and methods applied to investigate the skin penetration by NPs). The review summarizes various therapies using NPs to diagnose and treat skin diseases (melanoma, acne, alopecia, vitiligo, psoriasis) and anti-aging and UV-protectant nano-cosmetics.

Keywords: cosmetology; dermatology; drug delivery systems; nanocosmeceuticals; nanomaterials; nanoparticles; nanopharmaceuticals; nanotechnology; skin disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The schematic representation of the possible routes of the NPs permeation through the multilayered structure of the skin together with its main components and blood vessels (artery-red, vein-blue).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic illustration of different nanoparticles and their applications for topical treatment in dermatology.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Skin penetration routes of NP-based vaccines together with subpopulations of APC (antigen-presenting cells).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mechanisms of Ag-NPs’ antimicrobial activity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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