SLN- and NLC-Encapsulating Antifungal Agents: Skin Drug Delivery and their Unexplored Potential for Treating Onychomycosis

Title:SLN- and NLC-Encapsulating Antifungal Agents: Skin Drug Delivery and their Unexplored Potential for Treating Onychomycosis

Volume: 23 Issue: 43

Author(s): Tais Gratieri, Anna Paula Krawczyk-Santos, Priscila Bianca Rodrigues da Rocha, Marcilio Cunha–Filho, Guilherme Martins Gelfuso, Ricardo Neves Marreto and Stephania Fleury Taveira*

Affiliation:

• Laboratory of Nanosystems and Drug Delivery Devices (NanoSYS), School of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Goias, Rua 240, esq. com 5ª Avenida, Setor Leste Universitario, 74605- 170, Goiania, GO,Brazil

Keywords: Antifungal drugs, lipid nanoparticles, nail drug delivery, onychomycosis, skin drug delivery, skin permeation and ungual permeation.

Abstract: Background: Lipid nanoparticles have been extensively studied for drug delivery of antifungal drugs, especially for dermatophytosis treatments. They can accumulate in skin appendages and release drugs in a controlled manner and also increase skin moisture, due to the formation of an occlusive film. Since moisture heavily influences nail and skin permeability, these systems seem to pose great potential for antifungal drug delivery.

Methods: We therefore compare skin and nail physiopathological structure and discuss the potential use of lipid nanoparticles in managing skin and nail mycoses, highlighting their unexplored use in onychomycosis.

Results: Structural features become particularly relevant when treating local skin/nail disorders. Nail plate represents the most resistant barrier to the penetration of molecules. In recent years, at least 55 researches have been reported about lipid nanoparticles and, antifungal drugs. They have focused on production methods and nanoparticle ingredients influence on entrapment efficiency, fungal activity in vitro, stability, and drug release. Lipid nanoparticles such as SLN and NLC have shown great results in permeating the skin. Currently, however, there is just one study published using NLC applied directly to the nail plate. NLC containing voriconazole had a noteworthy impact on the penetration depth of a nanoencapsulated drug, which allowed its deeper penetration into porcine hooves than the unloaded drug.

Conclusion: Evidence of the success of SLN and NLC in achieving high encapsulation efficiencies of antifungals and promoting cutaneous delivery indicates the potential of the systems in enhancing nail hydration and drug penetration into the nail plate.

Cite this article as:

Gratieri Tais , Krawczyk-Santos Paula Anna , da Rocha Bianca Rodrigues Priscila, Cunha–Filho Marcilio , Gelfuso Martins Guilherme, Marreto Neves Ricardo and Taveira Fleury Stephania*, SLN- and NLC-Encapsulating Antifungal Agents: Skin Drug Delivery and their Unexplored Potential for Treating Onychomycosis, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2017; 23 (43) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666171115112745