Design And Evaluation Of Adapalene Microemulsion For Transfollicular Drug Delivery Through Guinea Pig Skin

The study developed and evaluated adapalene-loaded microemulsions (MEs) for transfollicular drug delivery through guinea pig skin, highlighting hair follicles as a significant pathway for drug absorption. Eight ME formulations were tested, showing enhanced solubility and penetration of adapalene, with droplet sizes ranging from 13.86 to 56.16 nm and a release rate of 75.62% to 95.37% over 24 hours. The research found that adapalene permeates more effectively through non-hairy skin, with MEA-3 achieving the highest release rate. ME-ADP5, with a lower surfactant-to-co-surfactant ratio, showed the highest affinity for the follicular pathway, suggesting that MEs could enhance adapalene's therapeutic efficacy in acne treatment by overcoming low percutaneous absorption.