Potential applications of nanomaterials to treat skin photoaging

Abstract

Skin photoaging is a pathological condition induced by ultraviolet radiation. Among the three types of Ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB are the two that can penetrate the epidermis and induce various symptoms of skin photoaging. Symptoms include wrinkles, reduced skin thickness, inflammation, and skin cancers in the worst situations. Skin photoaging is multifactorial. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and dermal extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation are the two significant features of skin photoaging. Ultraviolet radiation also induces cellular senescence and apoptosis of several skin cells like keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and immunosuppression. Topical administration of natural-derived and synthetic products and laser resurfacing therapies are currently used to treat skin photoaging. However, topical delivery of drugs has difficulty penetrating the epidermis, whereas laser treatments have relatively severe side effects. Nanomaterials, including nanoparticles and nanofibers, can encapsulate drugs to achieve a controlled topical drug release system with higher permeability and efficacy. Nanomaterials are biodegradable, non-toxic, and have high biocompatibility, making them potentially less invasive and having good side effect profiles when used in therapies. Thus, nanomaterials have the potential to be applied in treating skin photoaging, but the optimal doses, efficacy, and safety profiles require to be reconfirmed and improved in future studies.