Novel strategies to optimize topical skin bioavailability of low and high molecular weight drugs

Numerous drugs intended for dermatological use suffer from poor bioavailability. They are thus ineffective when administered topically and need oral or parenteral administration. The aim of this work was to find novel strategies to optimize topical skin bioavailability of already marketed and new, low and high molecular weight drugs in order to offer better therapeutic solutions to patients with dermatological conditions. Drugs such as tacrolimus, ciclosporin A, retinoic acid or imiquimod have been successfully delivered topically to skin in a targeted manner, often avoiding any undesired transdermal permeation. The developed formulations may answer an unmet need in the field of dermatology, bringing an improved management of skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis. Acne vulgaris or non-metastatic skin cancers. In the last study, it was possible to deliver topically to skin a drug as big as a 150 000 Da monoclonal antibody using a minimally-invasive laser poration technique