BREAKTHROUGHS IN TRANSDERMAL NANOSTRUCTURED LIPID CARRIER DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

The important barrier in transdermal drug delivery (TDD) is the Stratum corneum (SC), the outermost layer of the skin, which acts as an excellent protective physiological barrier. To boost the penetration or permeation of drugs through SC, several tactics have been used including passive and active methods of permeation or both in combination. This unwraps the opportunity to broaden the range of drugs that can be administered through the transdermal route, performed as alternatives to existing products, and overcomes the weaknesses of conventional routes. The Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) seem to be excellent candidates over conventional drug delivery systems. NLCs are fastly growing and in increased demand from pharmaceutical research groups globally since the last decade. After development of liposomes and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN), NLCs were introduced. NLC overcomes the limitations of SLN, like the limited drug loading capacity and drug expulsion during storage. NLCs receive a preferred choice of formulation in the cosmeceutical market and Pharmaceutical market as well. This review is an overview of the different permeation barriers in TDD, focusing on the Nanostructured lipid carriers, as a proof-of-concept of a successful development strategy, formulation additives, Formulation methods, Characterization parameters of NLC, along with till the date breakthroughs in developments of NLC more specifically in transdermal drug delivery systems.