Use of Lipid Nanoparticles, Nanoemulsions and Vesicles for Topical Delivery of Active Compounds Employed in the Cosmetic Field.

In the past decades, nanocarriers have attracted attention as topical delivery systems for many compounds employed in the cosmetic field. This interest is justified by their ability to provide protection against degradation of liable molecules, possibility to originate a local depot and prolong drug release, ability to overcome the barrier function of the skin and co-encapsulation of compounds of varying physicochemical characteristics, among other properties. The properties of nanocarriers vary with their composition and structure, which in turn, influence the outcomes of topical treatment. In this manuscript, we focused on three types of nanocarriers (namely, lipid and surfactant-based vesicles, nanoemulsions and lipid nanoparticles) and discussed their main characteristics and influence on cutaneous transport, stability and pharmacological effects of active molecules employed in the cosmetic field. We also provided examples of commercially available products that employ the nanocarriers discussed as well as patents relevant to this field.