Nanocrystal for Dermatological Application: A Comprehensive Review

Background: Dermatological problems impose the biggest challenges for formulation scientists because of the innate structure of the skin that offers an excellent barrier to the topical delivery of drugs. Conventional topical delivery systems are associated with low encapsulation efficiency, stability issue and skin irritation, and reduction in therapeutic efficacy. In recent years, nanocrystal has emerged as an attractive option for topical delivery due to its enhanced saturation solubility, increased surface area, adhesiveness, absence of excipients, and small particle size. Objective: The present review provides a comprehensive account of topical delivery for the management of various dermatological problems through nanocrystal technology. The review highlights the aptness of drug nanocrystals for skin delivery. The various methods used for the fabrication of nanocrystals and the mechanism of skin penetration have been included and dealt with in this review. The main emphasis is on the management of dermatological problems through employing nanocrystals; a plethora of literature and patents based on nanocrystal technology for topical delivery have been included in this review. Conclusion: Nanocrystal-based topical delivery system can be a promising approach for drugs with poor skin penetration as this system possesses the tremendous potential to overcome skin barrier and deliver drugs at relevant concentrations at the local tissue level and avoid skin irritation.