Research Summary
Microencapsulation has garnered significant attention due to its wide range of applications. Since its inception in the 1940s, this technology has been utilized across various fields, including the chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Over-the-counter skin products often contain ingredients that degrade readily and unevenly upon contact with the skin. By encapsulating these substances within a silica shell, their stability can be enhanced, allowing for better regulation of their delivery onto and into the skin.
Silica microencapsulation uses silica as the matrix material in which ingredients are embedded to form microcapsules. The FDA has recognized amorphous silica as a safe inorganic excipient, and two new topical therapies for the treatment of rosacea and acne have recently been approved. The first approved formulation uses a novel silica-based controlled vehicle delivery technology to improve the stability of two active ingredients that are usually not compatible in the same formulation due to potential instability and degradation. This formulation contains 3.0% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and 0.1% tretinoin topical cream, designed to treat acne vulgaris in adults and pediatric patients.
The second approved formulation includes silica microencapsulated 5.0% BPO topical cream, aimed at treating inflammatory rosacea lesions in adults. Both formulations employ the same amorphous silica sol-gel microencapsulation technology to enhance formulation stability and skin compatibility.
Keywords: Microencapsulation, Dermatologic agents, Silicon compounds, Amorphous silica.
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