Novel Vehicles For Drug Delivery in Atopic Dermatitis: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Atopic dermatitis (AD) significantly impacts quality of life due to dry, itchy skin and inflammation.
• Topical glucocorticosteroids are first-line treatments but have side effects and patient concerns.
• There is a need for novel therapeutic agents and drug delivery vehicles for AD management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current literature on novel topical agents for atopic dermatitis (AD).
• To summarize advancements in novel drug delivery vehicles for AD treatment.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed.
• A narrative review approach was used to synthesize recent evidence.

Main Results:

• New topical drugs in development for AD include Janus kinase inhibitors (e.g., ruxolitinib), phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors (e.g., crisaborole, roflumilast), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor activators (e.g., tapinarof).
• Novel delivery vehicles such as electrospun patches, sprays, liposomes, nanoparticles, and laser-based systems are being explored.
• These novel approaches aim to enhance transdermal drug delivery, minimize side effects, and improve patient adherence.

Conclusions:

• Current topical AD treatments predominantly use creams and ointments.
• In vitro studies indicate that novel delivery vehicles show promise in addressing topical delivery challenges.
• Further controlled clinical studies in human patients are necessary to validate these promising findings.