Title:Finasteride Topical Delivery Systems for Androgenetic Alopecia
VOLUME: 15 ISSUE: 8
Author(s):Muhammad Z.U. Khan, Shujaat A. Khan, Muhammad Ubaid, Aamna Shah, Rozina Kousar and Ghulam Murtaza*
Affiliation:Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad
Keywords:Androgenetic alopecia, Finasteride, 5-reductase isoenzymes, Erectile dysfunction, Topical formulation, Propylene
glycol, Flux.
Abstract:Androgenetic alopecia, generally recognized as male pattern baldness, is a gradually developing
medical and physiological change, which is manifested by continuous hair-loss from scalp. Finasteride
(4-aza-3-oxosteroid) is a potent anti-baldness compound that selectively and competitively inhibits
the 5α-reductase isoenzymes. Prolonged oral use of finasteride leads to the emergence of sexual disorders
including decrease in libido, gynecomastia, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorder, orgasm
disorders and mood disturbances. Since, hair follicles widely home in 5α-reductase, topical formulations
of finasteride in comparison to its oral formulations are expected to potentially reduce its systemic adverse
effects. The analysis of literature has revealed some delivery systems developed for the enhanced
and localized penetration of finasteride into the skin. These finasteride delivery systems include polymersomes,
vesicular nanocarriers, vesicular ethosomal carriers, liposomes and niosomes, liquid crystalline
nanoparticles, topical solutions and gels. The aim of this review article is to briefly amass all
literature on topical delivery of finasteride to elaborate best dosage form, i.e. formulation having maximum
permeation rate. This study will serve as a future perspective regarding topical delivery of finasteride.
The literature analysis has exhibited that most of the previous investigators have used propylene
glycol in their finasteride-loaded topical formulations, while poloxamer P407, monoolein, transcutol P
and choline was used in few formulations. Moreover, among all drug delivery systems, finasteride
liposomal gel system consisting of 2% methyl cellulose and gel system containing poloxamer P407
exhibited the highest flux with a value of 28.4 ± 1.3 µg/cm2h and 23.1 ± 1.4 µg/cm2h, respectively. Several
topical drug delivery techniques such as topical microneedles, aerosol foams, nanoemulsions, microsponges,
and emulsifier free formulations, fullerenes, ointments, pastes, creams, gel and lotions are
still to be worthy regarding finasteride topical delivery in future.
