Formulation for transfollicular drug administration: some recent advances

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmaceutics
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Percutaneous drug administration is therapeutically relevant for reducing hepatic metabolism and systemic toxicity.
• Hair follicles and sebaceous glands offer potential 'privileged pathways' for enhanced molecule and formulation entry into the skin.
• These follicular pathways can be faster routes compared to penetration through the stratum corneum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent formulation strategies for drug delivery through the follicular pathway.
• To highlight applications for localized diseases of the pilosebaceous unit.
• To demonstrate methods for bypassing the stratum corneum barrier via follicular shunting.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature on formulation methodologies for follicular drug delivery.
• Analysis of formulation approaches designed to utilize pilosebaceous units as entry points.
• Identification of strategies that exploit hair follicles and sebaceous glands to circumvent the stratum corneum.

Main Results:

• Several formulation methodologies have been developed for follicular drug administration.
• These methods facilitate targeted delivery to the pilosebaceous unit for localized diseases.
• Follicular delivery offers an alternative route, bypassing the primary barrier of the stratum corneum.

Conclusions:

• Formulation science is advancing to leverage follicular pathways for enhanced percutaneous drug delivery.
• Targeted delivery to pilosebaceous units is achievable, offering therapeutic advantages for specific skin conditions.
• Utilizing follicular shunts presents a viable strategy to overcome stratum corneum resistance in drug delivery.