Acne is a common skin disorder that affects millions of teenagers and adults worldwide. It can cause distress, anxiety, and low self-confidence among sufferers. While there are various treatments available, many have harmful side effects or are ineffective in penetrating the skin to target acne bacteria. However, Australian scientists may have found a breakthrough in acne treatment using tiny nanoparticles.
Researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) have developed a new antibacterial compound called Narasin, which has shown promise in treating drug-resistant acne bacteria. The compound was encased in soft nanoparticles that are 1,000 times smaller than a strand of human hair. These nanoparticles were then applied as a gel to specific acne sites.
Narasin is commonly used in the livestock industry for bacterial infections but has never been investigated as a viable treatment for acne until now. In this study, the researchers tested its effectiveness by delivering it through nanocarriers. The results were impressive – the nanocarriers achieved a 100-fold increase in absorption compared to taking Narasin with water alone.
Lead author Fatima Abid, a PhD student at UniSA, emphasizes that this is the first time Narasin nanomicelle formulations have been developed and tested for acne treatment. Acne affects around 9.4% of the world’s population, primarily adolescents, and finding effective and safe treatments is crucial.
Professor Sanjay Garg, Abid’s supervisor and a pharmaceutical scientist at UniSA, explains that increasing antibiotic resistance and the ineffectiveness of current topical medications make it essential to develop new antibacterial therapies for acne. The combination of Narasin enclosed in nanoparticles proved successful in delivering the compound to acne-affected areas.
To further investigate the effectiveness of Narasin nanoparticles on different layers of the skin, researchers used pig ear skin as a model. They found that the micellar formulation effectively penetrated these layers compared to compounded solutions that failed to do so.
This breakthrough in acne treatment offers hope for those suffering from this skin condition. The use of nanoparticles to deliver Narasin directly to the affected areas shows promise in effectively combating drug-resistant acne bacteria.
It is alleged to be, the study’s findings were published in the journal Nanoscale. This research opens up new possibilities for developing innovative and targeted treatments for acne that are both effective and safe.
So, Australian scientists have made significant progress in finding a potential treatment for acne using tiny nanoparticles. By encapsulating the antibacterial compound Narasin within these nanoparticles, researchers achieved a 100-fold increase in absorption compared to conventional methods. This breakthrough could revolutionize acne treatment and provide relief to millions of people worldwide.
Source: (Acne Treatment May Be Improved with Nanoparticle Delivery)(https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/acne-treatment-may-be-improved-with-nanoparticle-delivery-378978)
