A drug delivery perspective on nanotechnology-based topical therapeutics for inflammatory skin diseases

Abstract

Inflammatory skin diseases are chronic conditions that significantly affect patients’ skin health and quality of life. Traditional treatments, including systemic immunosuppressants and topical therapies, often face limitations such as low efficacy, inadequate skin penetration, and severe side effects. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution to tackle these challenges by providing innovative drug delivery systems that not only enhance therapeutic precision but also reduce systemic exposure.

Highlights

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems offer innovative solutions for managing inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and contact dermatitis.

Lipid nanoparticles (SLNs and NLCs) enhance drug solubility, boost skin penetration, and provide sustained release of anti-inflammatory agents.

Metal-based nanoparticles, such as selenium, gold, and molybdenum NPs, exhibit strong antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties by modulating oxidative stress and cytokine production.

Chitosan-based and polymeric nanoparticles improve local drug delivery, reduce systemic exposure, and inhibit key inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17A.

Graphene oxide nanoparticles help restore the Th1/Th2 balance while decreasing mast cell infiltration and epidermal thickening in models of allergic skin inflammation.

Nanocapsules facilitate controlled release, boost bioavailability, and improve skin retention of bioactives such as tacrolimus, bisabolol, and plant-derived oils.

Nanoemulsions and extracellular vesicles are emerging carriers that enhance therapeutic efficacy and modulate skin immune responses.

The review discusses translational challenges, including scalability, regulatory hurdles, and long-term safety, highlighting the necessity for further clinical research.

This review highlights the technological innovations and pre-clinical potential of nanotechnology-based therapies in managing inflammatory skin diseases, emphasizing their advantages over conventional treatments and their ability to overcome existing therapeutic limitations. Drug delivery nanosystems like lipid, polymeric, and metallic nanocarriers can be designed to penetrate the skin barrier and deliver drugs directly to the affected tissues. These nanocarriers improve drug stability, bioavailability, and retention in target areas while minimizing adverse effects.

Furthermore, nanoparticles can be functionalized with bioadhesive molecules (e.g. hyaluronic acid) to achieve targeted and sustained drug release. In preclinical studies, such advanced formulations have demonstrated the potential to modulate immune responses and reduce inflammation by delivering therapeutics in a controlled and localized manner.