Pharmaceutical Strategies for the Topical Dermal Delivery of Peptides/Proteins for Cosmetic and Therapeutic Applications

Bioactive peptides and proteins have attracted great attention in the cosmetic industry for the development of new cosmetic products to reverse the signs of ageing (anti-ageing treatment). These have also led to new therapeutic agents for clinical applications associated with wound healing; fibrosis, excessive scarring, and inflammation. One of the mostly used administration routes is by topical delivery. However, the skin is an intrinsic barrier to peptide/ protein transportation across the stratum corneum. Therefore the key function of a topical delivery system is to enhance the dermal permeability of the peptide/protein enabling it to cross the epidermis and retain in the dermis. The development of pharmaceutical strategies that employ sophisticated carrier systems such as elastic vesicles (such as liposome’s, and noisome), nano fibers, micro-emulsions and conjugation with cell-penetrating peptides may hold the key to enhancing peptide/protein dermal delivery. The aim of this paper is to review noninvasive topical delivery systems that promote dermal delivery of peptides/proteins for either cosmetic purposes or clinical therapeutic applications.