Polymeric micellar nanocarriers of benzoyl peroxide as potential follicular targeting approach for acne treatment

Abstract

The aim of this work was to optimize polymeric nano-sized micellar carriers of the anti-acne compound benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and to examine the ability of these carriers to deposit into hair follicles with the objective of improving skin delivery of BPO. BPO loaded polymeric micelles composed of Pluronic(®) F127 were prepared by the thin film hydration method and characterized in terms of size, loading capacity, morphology and physical stability. The optimized micelle formulation was then selected for skin delivery studies. The penetration of BPO loaded micellar carriers into skin and skin appendages across full thickness porcine skin was examined in vitro. Confocal microscopy images confirmed the penetration of Nile Red into hair follicles, which was loaded into micellar carriers as a model fluorescent compound. The relative safety of the polymeric micelles was evaluated with the MTT viability test using mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The results indicated that nano-sized polymeric micelles of BPO composed of Pluronic(®) F127 offer a potential approach to enhance skin delivery of BPO and that targeting of micelles into hair follicles may be an effective and safe acne treatment.

Keywords: Acne treatment; Follicular targeting; Nanocarriers; Polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide (PEO-PPO-PEO); Polymeric micelles; Skin penetration; Topical drug delivery.