Structural and component mining of nails using bioengineering techniques

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Dermatology
• Pharmaceutics

Background:

• The human nail presents significant challenges for targeted drug delivery and formulation efficacy.
• Understanding nail physiology, hydration effects, and trace elements as biomarkers is crucial for clinical studies.
• Existing literature inadequately analyzes the integration of biophysical, biochemical, and bioanalytical approaches for nail assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and highlight the importance of biophysical, biochemical, and bioanalytical techniques for human nail assessment.
• To emphasize the need for non-invasive, reliable, and reproducible methods in bioengineering for evaluating nail anatomical and functional parameters.
• To address the gap in literature regarding comprehensive analytical approaches for ungual product testing.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on biophysical, biochemical, and bioanalytical techniques applied to human nail studies.
• Analysis of existing research on nail physiology, hydration, and trace element analysis.
• Exploration of emerging non-invasive techniques in bioengineering for nail parameter assessment.

Main Results:

• Biophysical techniques are vital for assessing nail structure and physiology, yet comprehensive analyses integrating biochemical and bioanalytical methods are scarce.
• Research highlights the impact of hydration on nail properties and the potential of trace elements as biomarkers.
• Bioengineering is advancing non-invasive methods for evaluating nail parameters, crucial for ungual product development.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for integrated biophysical, biochemical, and bioanalytical strategies to fully understand human nail properties.
• Developing advanced, non-invasive assessment techniques is essential for improving the efficacy of ungual formulations.
• Further research integrating diverse analytical approaches will enhance nail research and product development.