Nanomedical strategies for targeting skin microbiomes.

Abstract

Nanoparticles can be effective drug delivery systems for treating bacterial and fungal infections in the skin. The nanoparticles used for drug therapy give many advantages over conventional formulations, such as increased solubility and storage stability, improved permeability and bioavailability, prolonged half-life, tissue targeting, and minimal side effects. In recent years, the concept of using nanoparticles to treat skin-microbiomerelated diseases has attracted increasing attention. This review article aimed to introduce recent progress using nanomedical strategies for drug delivery. Various modalities of nanocarriers can be used for antimicrobial therapy of disease, including liposomes, microemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and polymeric nanoparticles. This review systematically describes the structures and physicochemical properties of different nanocarriers, emphasizing antibacterial activity of nanoparticles for inhibiting infection. Nanoparticles for treating appendageal bacteria have gained attention in recent years, in particular, nanomedical approaches for managing acne. Issues related to the treatment of non-appendageal bacteria and fungi are also discussed. Finally, current obstacles to using nanocarriers for delivering medicines aimed at inhibiting infection and future developments are addressed.