Advancing skin delivery of α-tocopherol and γ-tocotrienol for dermatitis treatment via nanotechnology and microwave technology.

This study investigated combination nanocarrier and microwave system for α-tocopherol and γ-tocotrienol delivery against dermatitis, without skin thinning effect of steroids. The vitamin E was formulated into water-rich/water-poor nanoemulsions, and had their droplet size, zeta potential, morphology, therapeutic content, encapsulation efficiency and release, in vitro skin therapeutics/nanoemulsion penetration, retention and permeation profiles, and in vivo pharmacodynamics characteristics examined, with skin pre-treated by precision microwave when applicable. The nanoemulsions had droplet sizes <150 nm and negative zeta potential values.

Nanocarriers and their Actions to Improve Skin Permeability and Transdermal Drug Delivery.

Transdermal drug delivery is impeded by the natural barrier of epidermis namely stratum corneum. This limits the route to transport of drugs with a log octanol-water partition coefficient of 1 to 3, molecular weight of less than 500 Da and melting point of less than 200°C. Nanotechnology has received widespread investigation as nanocarriers are deemed to be able to fluidize the stratum corneum as a function of size, shape, surface charges, and hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity balance, while delivering drugs across the skin barrier.