Hydrogel-Based Nanocarriers: Novel Strategies for Atopic Dermatitis Treatment

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that requires repeated drug delivery to achieve a therapeutic effect. Traditional formulations, such as creams and ointments, are constrained by inadequate penetration, residence time, and low systemic absorption. This review discusses the development of nanocarrier-based hydrogels as next-generation delivery systems for the topical treatment of atopic dermatitis. It explains the logic of the integration of nanocarriers and hydrogel to improve the process of dermal permeation, retention, and release of drug in a controlled manner. Other forms of nanocarriers incorporated into hydrogels such as liposome-in-hydrogel, transfersome-in-hydrogel, nanoemulsion-based hydrogel, polymeric nanoparticle hydrogel, lipid nanoparticle hydrogel, micelle-loaded hydrogel and thermoresponsive hydrogel systems are critically discussed. The most important variables of the formulation, including polymer choice, crosslinking mode, rheological properties, and compatibility with drug-excipient are examined in terms of influence on the physicochemical stability and release rate. The review also mentions the issues of translational, scalability, and regulatory concerns in terms of clinical development. Altogether, hydrogel-based nanocarriers are an attractive and versatile system safe, effective, and potentially patient-acceptable topical therapy in atopic dermatitis, which could be of immense benefit to the dermatological design of formulations.