Table 3.

Topical delivery methods for both short interfering RNAs and microRNAs

Delivery platform	Properties	miRNA/siRNA	Target	Skin condition	References
Liposomes—“transfersomes”	Contain edge activator (sodium cholate)	siRNA	Myosin Va exon F (melanosome transport)	Pigmentation change	Geusens et al. [114]
Liposomes—“transethosomes” (SECosomes)	Contain edge activator (sodium cholate) and penetration enhancer (ethanol)	siRNA	Myosin Va exon F (melanosome transport)	Pigmentation change	Geusens et al. [115]
Liposomes—“transethosomes” (DDC642)	Contain edge activator (DOPE) and penetration enhancer (ethanol)	siRNA pre-miRNA antagomiR	Defensin Beta 4 (siRNA and pre-miR-145) Myosin Va exon F (pre-miR-145) SOCS3 (antagomiR to miR-203)	Psoriasis treatment	Desmet et al. [150]
Cell-penetrating peptides	TAT peptide	siRNA	RelA (NF-κB family member)	Atopic dermatitis treatment	Uchida et al. [151, 152]
	SPACE peptide decorated ethosomes	siRNA	GAPDH	NA	Chen et al. [125]
Self-delivering RNAi (Accell)	Chemically modified siRNAs allowing for greater stability and cellular uptake	siRNA	LUC2P-2 (luciferase reporter)	NA	Hegde et al. [141]

The multiple delivery vehicles and methods being explored for the topical administration of short interfering RNA/microRNA therapeutics and their penetration through the barrier of the stratum corneum of the upper epidermis

GAPDH glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, miRNAs microRNAs, NA not applicable, NF nuclear factor, RNAi RNA interference, siRNAs short interfering RNAs, SOCS suppressor of cytokine signaling, SPACE skin penetrating and cell entering, TAT trans-activating transcription activator