Lipid gene nanocarriers for the treatment of skin diseases: Current state-of-the-art.

Nucleic acids carried by non-viral nanovectors have demonstrated high potential as a therapeutic strategy for gene-related diseases. The dermal or transdermal gene delivery allow to target local skin diseases or to reach the blood stream. However, the skin is the first defense barrier of the body and must be overcome to distribute nucleic acids. Many intracellular barriers as cellular uptake, endosomal escape or cytosolic gene trafficking have to be crossed for the gene to achieve its therapeutic action. All hurdles to skin nucleic acid therapy are precisely described. Physical, active or passive methods have been proposed to improve the penetration through the stratum corneum. Lipidic-nanocarriers represent one of the most attractive methods because any skin disruption technique is requested. We give an overview of deformable lipidic-nanocarriers that have been developed to promote the skin penetration of nucleic acids. Moreover, this review describes the potential of deformable liposomes for cutaneous disorders.