Acne is a skin infection that occurs when skin pores get congested, often with a naturally occurring, oily lubricant called sebum - created by the sebaceous gland. During adolescence, when the skin in changing, many teenager's sebaceous glands over produce sebum, leading to congestion, infection, and, ultimately, acne.
Most modern treatments of acne work by treating the symptoms of the infection or by trying to diminish sebum production chemically. Often times, these drugs also cause unwanted side effects - like skin dryness - or resistance. However, researchers at University of California at Santa Barbra, have developed a possible alternative to current treatments. Rather than a purely symptomatic treatment, they have utilized nanotechnologies to directly destroy the over-productive sebaceous, thus stopping the production of sebum and curing the resulting acne.
More precisely, the drug is a silicon oxide molecule with a gold encasement in the nanosize region. It's size is particularly useful for its delivery as it is able to enter the pores transdermally - that is, without injection or consumption.
The treatment has three phases, illustrated below. The first is to apply the nanoparticle formulation to the skin. The second is to use low-frequency ultrasound to 'push' the nanoparticles into the follicle - this is the delivery system. The last step uses a laser to activate the treatment and effectively cure the acne.
The final step works through a process called Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). Illustrated in the diagram, SPRworks when a beam of light is shined at a metal surface and the light resonates with the metal in such a way that a specific wavelength is converted from light energy to mechanical energy or heat - as seen below with the "plasmon wave".
The researchers used this property of metal in their nanoparticle. Once the nanoparticles have entered the follicle (the second phase), a laser (which is a beam of light at a single wavelength) is pointed at the targeted area. Due to the particle being a metal, an SPR effect is created, leading to heat production that deactivates the overactive sebaceous cells.
Although the treatment is not yet in the market, it is currently undergoing clinical studies, where side effects and efficacy are being studied.
It is clear that the work on this drug has not only been useful for the treatment of acne, but has also provided for a new delivery system (via ultrasound) and proves to the world the eminence of nanotechnologies.
To learn more about the treatment, click here.
To learn more about Surface Plasmon Resonance, click here.
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| Diagram of a Normal Follicle |
More precisely, the drug is a silicon oxide molecule with a gold encasement in the nanosize region. It's size is particularly useful for its delivery as it is able to enter the pores transdermally - that is, without injection or consumption.
The treatment has three phases, illustrated below. The first is to apply the nanoparticle formulation to the skin. The second is to use low-frequency ultrasound to 'push' the nanoparticles into the follicle - this is the delivery system. The last step uses a laser to activate the treatment and effectively cure the acne.
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| A Diagram of the Phases of the Nanoparticle |
The researchers used this property of metal in their nanoparticle. Once the nanoparticles have entered the follicle (the second phase), a laser (which is a beam of light at a single wavelength) is pointed at the targeted area. Due to the particle being a metal, an SPR effect is created, leading to heat production that deactivates the overactive sebaceous cells.
.jpg/800px-Surface_Plasmon_Resonance_(SPR).jpg) |
| Diagram of Surface Plasmon Resonance |
It is clear that the work on this drug has not only been useful for the treatment of acne, but has also provided for a new delivery system (via ultrasound) and proves to the world the eminence of nanotechnologies.
To learn more about the treatment, click here.
To learn more about Surface Plasmon Resonance, click here.
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