Retinoid acid (RA) and other retinoids are extensively used as therapeutic agents in the treatment of several types of cancer and skin disorders. However, the efficiency of these medical agents is compromised due to the unsatisfactory concentration of retinoids in the target cells/tissues. Furthermore, severe side-effects are related to retinoids administration. Incorporation of retinoids into carrier-based delivery systems using encapsulation technology has been proposed in order to overcome the limitations of using free retinoids in the treatment of several pathologies. The present work starts exploring the competences and the difficulties of using retinoids in health care. The metabolism and the main considerations about the mechanism of action of retinoids are also discussed. The final sections are focused on the most recent studies about RA controlled delivery systems to be used in the medical field.
Keywords: Cancer; Controlled release; Encapsulation; Retinoids; Skin disorders.
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