TOPICAL VITAMIN A DELIVERY: CHALLENGES, OVERVIEW OF NOVEL APPROACHES

Vitamin A, commonly referred to as retinol, a fat soluble vitamin is an important nutrient involved in multiple functions within the human body which includes its role in the vision cycle, expression of genes,immunity, reproduction, epithelial cell growth and more. In the past years, dermal applications of Vitamin A have been extensively studied. Retinol has been found to be beneficial in various skin diseases such as aging, psoriasis, roughness, wrinkles and skin cancer. Retinol and its derivative retinoic acid are being studied for their therapeutic role in dermal conditions. Conventional topical delivery of retinol has certain drawbacks, like low bioavailability, poor photostability, erratic release pattern and skin irritation on application. Most of these topical formulations are available in gel and ointment form which results in stickiness and greasiness. Various novel approaches are being researched which include nanotechnology based vesicular systems, emulsions and nanospheres to provide effective topical delivery of retinol. This review discusses biopharmaceutical aspects of Vitamin A and challenges in formulating stable and bioavailable topical delivery of Vitamin A. The review mentions about novel approaches attempted to combat these challenges.