An antibacterial compound commonly used in the livestock industry shows promise for acne when delivered via nanocarriers.
Researchers from the University of South Australia tested Narasin was encased in tiny, soft nanoparticles in a gel form. The compound showed efficacy against drug-resistant acne bacteria and achieved a 100-fold increase in absorption than when it is taken with water.
Findings appear in the journal Nanoscale.
Lead author, UniSA PhD student Fatima Abid, says this is the first time that nano-micelle formulations of Narasin have been developed and trialed.
Ms. Abid, Professor Sanjay Garg, and researchers from UniSA, the University of Adelaide, and Aix-Marseille Université in France also investigated how well Narasin encased in nanoparticles penetrated various layers of skin, using pig’s ear skin as a model.
“The micelle formulation was effective in delivering Narasin to acne targets sites, as opposed to the compound solution which failed to permeate through skin layers,” Prof Garg says.