Title:Recent Advances in Chemical Composition and Transdermal Delivery
Systems for Topical Bio-actives in Skin Cancer
Volume: 23
Issue: 1
Author(s): Jitu Halder, Ajit Mishra, Biswakanth Kar, Goutam Ghosh and Goutam Rath*
Affiliation:
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha,
751003, India
Keywords:
Topical anticancer bioactive, Melanoma, Non-melanoma cancer, Chemical composition, Transdermal therapy, Chemotherapy.
Abstract: Skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, is
conventionally treated by surgery, phototherapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. For decades,
surgical removal of malignant cancers has favored patients' therapeutic options. However, multiple
aspects, such as the patient's comorbidities, the anatomical location of the lesion, and possible resistance
to recurrent excisions, can influence the decision to conduct surgery. Therefore, topical and
transdermal therapy may be a more appropriate option, allowing for higher therapeutic levels at the
site of action and reducing toxicity than systemic therapy. The most commonly used topical agents
for treating skin carcinoma are- 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, sonidegib, dacarbazine, etc. However,
physicochemical drug characteristics and skin physiological barriers limit the anticancer potency of
topical as well as transdermal drug delivery. In recent years, unquestionable signs of progress have
been demonstrated to circumvent these challenges. In particular, significant studies have been made,
including modification of bio-actives, permeability enhancers, incorporation of advanced nano and
microcarriers, and physical enhancement devices. This critical review summarizes the advancement
in the chemical composition of bioactives used in skin cancer, such as sinecatechins, BIL-010t,
patidegib, gingerol, curcumin, remetinostat, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, etc. Furthermore, this review
specifically addresses the progress in transdermal delivery systems for melanoma and nonmelanoma
cancer therapy, emphasizing advances in physical and chemical penetration enhancement
and nanocarrier-assisted transdermal systems.