Advances in transdermal delivery systems using polysaccharide-based natural enhancers: mechanisms and clinical potential

초록

Background Recently, the skin has been demonstrated as an attractive route for drug delivery due to its convenience and high potential for diverse applications. However, the transdermal delivery of biomacromolecules remains challenging, primarily due to their large molecular weights and hydrophilic nature, which hinder penetration through the stratum corneum. Despite these limitations, certain natural polysaccharides have demonstrated unexpectedly high skin permeability, making them attractive candidates for use in transdermal delivery systems. Area covered This review presents three representative polysaccharides, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, and cyclodextrin, that function as natural enhancers of transdermal drug delivery. We discuss their unique physicochemical properties, skin interaction mechanisms, and roles in enhancing drug permeation. Furthermore, we explore the diverse range of polysaccharide-based transdermal delivery systems, including drug conjugates, hydrogels, nanoparticles, and microneedles, and provide insights into their current status in clinical translation and future research perspectives. Expert opinion Polysaccharides provide a versatile and biocompatible foundation for developing next-generation transdermal delivery systems. Their ability to interact with skin components through specific functional groups provides both delivery enhancement and therapeutic flexibility. Inspired by the discovery of novel polysaccharides and the continuous evolution of transdermal delivery approaches, further investigations and clinical translation of polysaccharide-based transdermal delivery systems are highly expected in the future.

키워드