Evaluation of Dutasteride-Loaded Liposomes and Transfersomes for Follicular-Targeting for Androgenic Alopecia Topical Treatment

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Although androgenic alopecia is the most prevalent among non-cicatricial alopecia, it still lacks an effective and safe treatment. Dutasteride (DUT) shows promising results in hair regrowth; however, oral DUT intake causes serious sexual adverse events. Henc...

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Main Authors: Jayanaraian F. M. Andrade, Breno N. Matos, Rafael V. Rocho, Geisa N. Barbalho, Marcilio Cunha-Filho, Guilherme M. Gelfuso, Taís Gratieri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/16/12/1524
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author Jayanaraian F. M. Andrade
Breno N. Matos
Rafael V. Rocho
Geisa N. Barbalho
Marcilio Cunha-Filho
Guilherme M. Gelfuso
Taís Gratieri
author_facet Jayanaraian F. M. Andrade
Breno N. Matos
Rafael V. Rocho
Geisa N. Barbalho
Marcilio Cunha-Filho
Guilherme M. Gelfuso
Taís Gratieri
author_sort Jayanaraian F. M. Andrade
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Although androgenic alopecia is the most prevalent among non-cicatricial alopecia, it still lacks an effective and safe treatment. Dutasteride (DUT) shows promising results in hair regrowth; however, oral DUT intake causes serious sexual adverse events. Hence, we produced liposomes with different bilayer structures and evaluated the capability of such systems in increasing DUT accumulation in the hair follicles. <b>Methods:</b> In vitro skin penetration tests were performed with porcine ear skin, and the follicular targeting factor (Tf) was calculated as the ratio between DUT amount in HFs and DUT recovered from the sum of all skin layers. <b>Results:</b> While the stiffer DUT-loaded liposome was not able to target the hair follicles in 12 h (Tf = 0.15), a DUT-loaded liposome with an edge activator in its composition, i.e., transfersomes, promoted better control over DUT release and a higher Tf (0.32) (<i>p</i> < 0.005). <b>Conclusions:</b> Transfersomes present higher affinity with DUT providing a better controlled release; hence, they are a better option for DUT follicle targeting compared to liposomes. Further formulation optimizations are needed aiming to prolong such targeting effect.
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spelling doaj-art-78c7ef1a68cd476ab18a056e666dc5eb2025-08-20T02:51:07ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232024-11-011612152410.3390/pharmaceutics16121524Evaluation of Dutasteride-Loaded Liposomes and Transfersomes for Follicular-Targeting for Androgenic Alopecia Topical TreatmentJayanaraian F. M. Andrade0Breno N. Matos1Rafael V. Rocho2Geisa N. Barbalho3Marcilio Cunha-Filho4Guilherme M. Gelfuso5Taís Gratieri6Laboratory of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, DF, BrazilLaboratory of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, DF, BrazilLaboratory of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, DF, BrazilLaboratory of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, DF, BrazilLaboratory of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, DF, BrazilLaboratory of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, DF, BrazilLaboratory of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (LTMAC), University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Although androgenic alopecia is the most prevalent among non-cicatricial alopecia, it still lacks an effective and safe treatment. Dutasteride (DUT) shows promising results in hair regrowth; however, oral DUT intake causes serious sexual adverse events. Hence, we produced liposomes with different bilayer structures and evaluated the capability of such systems in increasing DUT accumulation in the hair follicles. <b>Methods:</b> In vitro skin penetration tests were performed with porcine ear skin, and the follicular targeting factor (Tf) was calculated as the ratio between DUT amount in HFs and DUT recovered from the sum of all skin layers. <b>Results:</b> While the stiffer DUT-loaded liposome was not able to target the hair follicles in 12 h (Tf = 0.15), a DUT-loaded liposome with an edge activator in its composition, i.e., transfersomes, promoted better control over DUT release and a higher Tf (0.32) (<i>p</i> < 0.005). <b>Conclusions:</b> Transfersomes present higher affinity with DUT providing a better controlled release; hence, they are a better option for DUT follicle targeting compared to liposomes. Further formulation optimizations are needed aiming to prolong such targeting effect.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/16/12/1524androgenic alopeciadutasteridefollicular targetingliposometransfersome
spellingShingle Jayanaraian F. M. Andrade
Breno N. Matos
Rafael V. Rocho
Geisa N. Barbalho
Marcilio Cunha-Filho
Guilherme M. Gelfuso
Taís Gratieri
Evaluation of Dutasteride-Loaded Liposomes and Transfersomes for Follicular-Targeting for Androgenic Alopecia Topical Treatment
Pharmaceutics
androgenic alopecia
dutasteride
follicular targeting
liposome
transfersome
title Evaluation of Dutasteride-Loaded Liposomes and Transfersomes for Follicular-Targeting for Androgenic Alopecia Topical Treatment
title_full Evaluation of Dutasteride-Loaded Liposomes and Transfersomes for Follicular-Targeting for Androgenic Alopecia Topical Treatment
title_fullStr Evaluation of Dutasteride-Loaded Liposomes and Transfersomes for Follicular-Targeting for Androgenic Alopecia Topical Treatment
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Dutasteride-Loaded Liposomes and Transfersomes for Follicular-Targeting for Androgenic Alopecia Topical Treatment
title_short Evaluation of Dutasteride-Loaded Liposomes and Transfersomes for Follicular-Targeting for Androgenic Alopecia Topical Treatment
title_sort evaluation of dutasteride loaded liposomes and transfersomes for follicular targeting for androgenic alopecia topical treatment
topic androgenic alopecia
dutasteride
follicular targeting
liposome
transfersome
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/16/12/1524
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