An Overview of Atopic Dermatitis with a Focus on Nano-Interventions

Abstract

With nano-based products becoming ubiquitous across all therapeutic areas, especially the area of skin care, it has become imperative to review the correlation between the unmet needs and the pipelines of available products. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is prevalent across different regions of the world with an incidence rate varying from 15–30% in children and adults. The pathogenesis of AD is a complex interplay between defects in skin barrier function, environmental and infectious agents, and immune abnormalities. Furthermore, although the role of reactive oxygen species has been studied in AD and other skin diseases to some extent, its importance in AD has rarely been investigated. The limitations associated with the use of currently available therapies like topical corticosteroids (first-line) and/or topical calcineurin inhibitors, and the use of other over-the-counter products to manage the sleep disturbances and skin infections, create a need for other innovative solutions. Nano-intervention forms a large panel of delivery aids, including lipidic and polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, silica nanoparticles, hydrogels, and several other delivery systems. These interventions are mainly designed to achieve higher drug encapsulation, greater stability, and higher skin permeation. This review aims to give an overview of the epidemiology of AD, the pathogenic events, and the challenges present with currently available therapies. There is a special focus on the recent developments in various nanocarrier technologies for treating AD.