Need of Work

3. NEED OF WORK
Acne vulgaris (or simply acne) is a very common human
skin disease, characterized by area of seborrhea (scaly red
skin), comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules
(pinheads), nodules (large papules), and pimple and possibly
scarring. Adapalene is a anti acne drug comes under BCS
class-II drug having log P value of 8.6. Due to high
lipophilicity nature, it retains in the epidermis of the skin
leads to side effects such as temporary burning, stinging, dry
skin, feeling of warmth, irritation, itching, peeling, redness,
erythema, scaling. Adapalene binds directly to the nuclear
retinoic acid receptor and modulates keratinization and
differtiation of follicular epithelial cells. It is effective against
acne vulgaris, keratosis, pilaris and other skin conditions.[57]
Adapalene is a chemically stable, retinoid-like compound.
Biochemical and pharmacological profile studies have
demonstrated that adapalene is a modulator of cellular
differentiation, keratinization and inflammatory processes all
of which represent important features in the pathology of acne
vulgaris. Absorption of adapalene through human skin is low.
Only trace amounts (<0.25 ng/mL) of parent substance have
been found in the plasma of acne patients following chronic
topical application of adapalene in controlled clinical trials.

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 Need of Work

Niosomes provides and effective drug delivery system,

allowing anti-acne drug to reach the acne site
specifically and thus, greatly improve treatment efficacy.
Niosomes play an increasingly important role in drug delivery
as they can reduce toxicity and modify drug pharmacokinetics
and bioavailability. Niosomes seem an interesting drug
delivery system in the treatment of dermatological disorders
as niosomes is the first choice in the cosmetic industry. In
fact, topically applied niosomes can increase the residence
time of drugs in the stratum corneum and epidermis, while
reducing the systemic absorption of the drug.[55,56] Niosomes
prolonging contact time of drug with the applied tissues in
topical application.[58-60] Niosomes are unilamellar or
multilamellar vesicles formed from synthetic non-ionic
surfactants, offering an alternative to liposomes as drug
carriers.
The topical administration of anti acne drugs is an
interesting alternative for increasing drug targeting and
therapeutic benefits. The major challenge of treatment is
to increase the penetration of the Antiacne drug through
the skin barriers. Niosomes are of interest because of the
unique properties (e.g. size and penetration power)
which help in the penetration of drug at the desired sites.

BVDU, PCP, Dept. of Pharmaceutics, 2014-15 45

 Need of Work

Topical route is the most commonly used and

preferred route of choice for delivery of anti-acne drugs
targetted to the skin. Niosomes are being widely
employed for the delivery of BCS Class-II and IV drugs
due to their small nanometric size and high penetration
power. It may also help to achieve less irritant
formulation compared to the marketed formulation as
they are encapsulating the drug in the vesicles and also
controlling the drug release. It enhances the stability and
increase the residence time of drug, so penetration of the drug
will be increased at the site. Niosomal gel also overcomes
from the side effects which are associated with the
conventional gel like lack of penetration, irritation at the site
of action etc. The proposed work investigates the feasibility of
niosomal gel of adapalene for the treatment of acne
vulgaris.[61,62]
Therefore, an approach is required to deliver the
drug in the desired layer of skin without altering its
physicochemical properties, reducing side effects which
can be achieved by formulating it as niosomal gel.

BVDU, PCP, Dept. of Pharmaceutics, 2014-15 46