recent advances in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and the application of novel drug delivery systems in its treatment

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting skin disorder that significantly impacts the physical and mental health of patients, primarily characterized by the loss of epidermal melanocytes, leading to white patches on the skin and mucous membranes. The pathogenesis of vitiligo is complex, with oxidative stress, immune imbalance, and the interaction between these two factors playing a key role. Current treatment strategies mainly focus on alleviating oxidative stress to regulate immune responses, thereby inhibiting the excessive immune activation that damages melanocytes, with drug interventions being the primary approach. However, due to the barrier effect of the skin's stratum corneum, the therapeutic outcomes of these treatments remain suboptimal. The introduction of novel nanoparticle drug delivery systems has revolutionized local treatments for vitiligo, enhancing both the efficacy and safety of drugs and offering new possibilities for personalized and precision treatments. In this review, we systematically summarize the latest advances in the understanding of vitiligo's pathogenesis, treatment strategies, and the role of nanoparticle-based therapies, with a focus on lipid-based and polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery systems, nanoemulsions, microemulsions, hydrogels, and microneedles. These studies emphasize improving treatment outcomes for vitiligo by enhancing drug loading efficiency, improving skin penetration, and increasing local drug concentration, providing theoretical support for further research into vitiligo's pathogenesis and the development of novel therapeutic agents.