Thiolated and PEGylated silica nanoparticle delivery to hair follicles

Al Mahrooqi, J. H., Khutoryanskiy, V. V. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7221-2630 and Williams, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3654-7916 (2021) Thiolated and PEGylated silica nanoparticle delivery to hair follicles. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 593. 120130. ISSN 0378-5173 doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.120130

Abstract/Summary

Targeting drug delivery to hair follicles is valuable to treat conditions such as alopecia’s and acne, and this shunt route may also allow drug delivery to deeper skin layers and the systemic circulation by avoiding the intact stratum corneum. Here, we investigated the effects of nanoparticle surface chemistry on their delivery into hair follicles by synthesizing fluorescent thiolated silica nanoparticles and functionalizing with 750 Da and 5000 Da methoxypolyethylene glycol maleimide (PEG). The stability of the nanoparticles in skin homogenate was verified before tape stripping of porcine-dosed tissue showed the distribution of the free fluorescent dye and different nanoparticles in the skin. Analysis of microscopic images of the skin sections revealed penetration of nanoparticles functionalized with PEG into the appendages whereas thiolated nanoparticles stayed on the surface of the skin and were removed by tape stripping. Nanoparticles functionalized with PEG 5000 Da penetrated deeper into the hair follicles compared to counterparts functionalized with PEG 750 Da. PEGylation can thus enhance targeted delivery of nanoparticulates into hair follicles.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/94775
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy > Pharmaceutics Research Group
Publisher	Elsevier
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