title: Antioxidant Nanoplatforms for Dermal Delivery: Melatonin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melatonin is emerging as a promising therapeutic agent, mainly due to its role as antioxidant. Substantial evidences show that melatonin is potentially effective in a variety of diseases as cancer, inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. The excellent antioxidant capacity with pharmacokinetics characteristics and the emerging search for new pharmaceutical nanotechnology based systems, make it particularly attractive to elaborate nanoplatforms based on melatonin for biomedical or cosmetic dermal applications. Different nanosystems for dermal delivery have been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review focuses on nanocarrier production strategies, dermal melatonin application and delivery advances in vivo and in vitro. Equally, future perspectives of this assisted melatonin delivery have also been discussed.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current review, we have revised relevant articles of the available literature using the major scientific databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and thirteen papers were included in the review, the majority of which represent latest researches in nanosized platforms for the dermal delivery of melatonin including liposomes, ethosomes, niosomes, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles and cyclodextrins. Furthermore, relevant papers reporting in vitro and in vivo application studies of these nano-based melatonin platforms were also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of nanoplatforms for the dermal melatonin delivery as antioxidant agent could improve the efficacy of conventional melatonin administration due to the preservation of the drug from premature oxidation and the enhancement of drug permeation through the skin providing greater exposure times.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona. Spain.
authors.forename: Aroha Sanchez
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Milan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona. Spain.
authors.forename: Ana Cristina Calpena
authors.initials: ACC
authors.lastname: Campmany
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Granada University, P.O. Box: 18071 (Campus of Cartuja St. s/n), Granada. Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz Clares
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Naveros
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012869:Skin Absorption
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Antioxidants; dermal delivery; melatonin; nanosystems; pharmacokinetics; skin metabolism