Have you ever woken up with a slew of fresh breakouts after having flawless skin for months? Acne is a source of stress for millions of individuals worldwide, striking whenever seems most inconvenient. It continues to challenge both dermatologists and patients alike with its diverse manifestations and overly stubborn recurrence. While most traditional therapies are effective to some extent, they often fall short of addressing the true underlying factors that contribute to this inflammatory condition. However, recent nanotechnology drug delivery systems have shown enormous potential in revolutionizing acne treatment by overcoming limitations associated with these conventional therapies.
In its most basic form, acne is not an infection, but rather a skin disorder that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. What makes it tricky to treat is the multifactorial nature of the condition: it is affected by hormones, genetics, diet, and the skin’s natural processes (Singh et al., 2021).
Topicals, antibiotics, contraceptives, Accutane, and intralesional injections (direct injection of a substance into a lesion) are conventional techniques used to treat acne. However, these therapies, while widely used and effective for many, come with downsides. Skin irritation is a common side effect in topicals that include commonly found ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and retinoids, which can lead to extreme discomfort. Long-term use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistance bacteria, and when starting certain acne treatments, antibiotics can induce an initial flare-up. Another common acne treatment, hormonal contraceptives, can disrupt the normal processes of the body and have side effects such as nausea, irregular bleeding, and weight fluctuations. More intense medications such as Accutane, or isotretinoin, can lead to changes in lipid levels, potentially causing liver and gut failure and even depressive episodes (AAD, 2021).
Novel nanotechnology acne therapies aim to solve all of these problems. Nanotechnology is the science of working with incredibly tiny particles and structures, roughly a billionth of a meter in size. What it means to be considered nanotechnology in this case is the use of systems designated as ‘nanocarriers’ to deliver the acne therapy. The nanocarriers being tested for acne treatments include liposomes, niosomes, and microsponges. Liposomes are spherical vesicles composed of lipid (fat) bilayers, mimicking the structure of cell membranes—the wall that surrounds all our cells. They can encapsulate medicines inside layers made of fats or in their watery center. Niosomes are much like liposomes, but instead of using a singular type of fat, they use different kinds of soap-like materials. Microsponges are like tiny sponges that are extremely porous, allowing them to soak up and trap medicines effectively.
These applications work by either having antimicrobial properties and/or use current therapeutics with vehicles at the nanoscale (Berger, 2021). The hope for this is to effectively enhance the delivery of the treatment and improve its efficacy.
The ideal approach would be a topical therapy that would combine both of these aspects. Dr. Adam Friedman from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, along with researchers at UCLA School of Medicine, demonstrated an approach that tested this theory. The team was able to show that nanoparticles of chitosan, derived from the shells of crustaceans, were capable of killing acne bacteria while also inhibiting inflammation and wound formation (Friedman, 2021).
The benefits seen from this study provide some insight into the advantages of nanotechnology as of late. Essentially, nanotechnology formulations can sustain the release of active ingredients over time—in this case, chitosan—providing a longer duration of drug activity. This leads to the inhibition of inflammation and the killing of acne for an extended period.
It is comforting to observe promising results from these preliminary studies. Moreover, there are even more studies in the process that focus on preventative therapies rather than treatments. This takes us one step closer to what we all want: to never have to worry about a flare-up ever again.
References
Berger, Michael. “Nanotechnology against Acne.” Nanotechnology, 3 Jan. 2021, www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=28269.php.
Friedman, Adam. “Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Chitosan–Alginate ...” Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Chitosan–Alginate Nanoparticles: A Targeted Therapy for Cutaneous Pathogens, May 2021, www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)36208-4/fulltext.
“Isotretinoin: The Truth about Side Effects.” American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), 15 Dec. 2021, www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/derm-treat/isotretinoin/side-effects.
Singh V;Redhu R;Verma R;Mittal V;Kaushik D; “Anti-Acne Treatment Using Nanotechnology Based on Novel Drug Delivery System and Patents on Acne Formulations: A Review.” Recent Patents on Nanotechnology, 2021, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33302844/.