Emollients
Traditional emollients or moisturizing cream
are insufficient to deliver the active ingredients
such as ceramides in adequate amounts to the
active site.
Oil/water nanoemulsions are promising colloidal
drug carrier systems for diverse therapeutic
applications, particularly, they are
effective in replacing depleted stratum corneum
lipids (ceramides).
As emulsified particle size decreases, several
favorable properties emerge: nanoemulsions
become invisible, they also develop good sensory
texture, with a light, non-greasy feel.
Ceramides, in fact, are extremely insoluble
compounds, a property directly linked to their
intrinsic functionality, such as the formation of
a water-impermeable barrier (8). To provide
this function, ceramides must be able to penetrate
the stratum corneum. Because of their
small size and hydrophilic exterior, particles
rapidly penetrate into the outer layers of the
skin and hair, allowing for deeper penetration
of water immiscible active ingredients, such as
antioxidants, retinol, or lipids, and increase
their effective concentration in target tissues
(9). Having a lipophilic interior, nanoemulsions
are efficient at transporting hydrophobic substances
in aqueous environments and they
might be used as drug delivery vehicles (10,
e14
Saraceno et al.
11). For instance c-amino-butyric acid, an
inhibitory neurotransmitter with musclerelaxing
properties, is being studied for
wrinkle reduction. Future possibilities for
nanoemulsions may be represented by a
strategic role in delivering and stabilizing
bioactive enzymes such as transgluataminases.
Moreover, it will be possible to treat genetic
diseases, replacing the lacking component, as
filaggrin in ichthyosis, restoring the disturbed