Nanotechnology Approaches in Polymeric Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) are capable of injecting drugs at specific sites without damaging the skin membrane. Although the skin is the most attractive and accessible route of drug administration, it constitutes an excellent barrier due to the presence of the stratum corneum (SC) for the penetration of most therapeutic agents, especially hydrophilic drugs. The drug is transported through the skin portal to the blood circulation system with a controlled release rate and for a longer period of time. Nanotechnology has made significant progress in all sciences, including transdermal systems. Nanotechnology represents the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of materials and devices (at an atomic or molecular level), in order to produce new nano-sized materials, preferably ۱–۱۰۰ nm. The development of a nanotechnological product for percutaneous application is challenging. So, in this research, primarily skin anatomy is discussed for general understanding; then an overview of absorption through the skin, advantages of nanotechnology-based polymeric TDDS over conventional delivery systems, physicochemical properties of nanostructures required for transdermal drug delivery, and some of them being used in TDDS are presented. Polymeric transdermal nanosystems are divided into two categories, the first category is nanostructures that have the role of drug carriers and drug injectors. Lipid Nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and dendrimers are among this category. The second category is the structures in which nanomaterials are used to increase the efficiency of transdermal systems. The second category may not be nanometers, but they have used nanomaterials in their structure to improve efficiency.

کلیدواژه ها:

Transdermal carrier ، nanotechnology ، Skin penetration ، nanostructures