Table 3.

Advantages and Disadvantages of NLCs as Nanocarriers in Topical Drug Delivery Systems

Advantages

Disadvantages

Higher drug loading capacity and entrapment efficiency25 Controlled drug release and prevention of initial burst release25 Prevention of drug expulsion during preparation and storage25 Enhancing skin permeation of active pharmaceuticals25 Acting as a drug reservoir in the dermis for prolonged drug release25 More occlusive properties than SLNs25,44 More drug fluxes through the skin than SLNs25 and enhanced cutaneous bioavailability45 Enhancing water solubility of drugs25 Follicular delivery of active pharmaceuticals in acne vulgaris, hirsutism, and alopecia4,19 Lower water content in comparison to SLNs38 Enhancing the physicochemical stability of loaded active pharmaceuticals45 Skin hydration properties45 Reduction of intrinsic cytotoxicity41

Lower viscosity than SLNs which causes shorter skin residence time25 Promising results just for local applications, not transdermal use19 Lower occlusive effect than SLNs46