Preparation and characterization of marine sponge collagen nanoparticles and employment for the transdermal delivery of 17β-estradiol-hemihydrate

Abstract

Background: Transdermal administration of estradiol offers advantages over oral estrogens for hormone replacement therapy regarding side effects by bypassing the hepatic presystemic metabolism. Aim: The objective of this study was to develop nanoparticles of Chondrosia reniformis sponge collagen as penetration enhancers for the transdermal drug delivery of 17β-estradiol-hemihydrate in hormone replacement therapy. Method: Collagen nanoparticles were prepared by controlled alkaline hydrolysis and characterized using atomic force microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. Estradiol-hemihydrate was loaded to the nanoparticles by adsorption to their surface, whereupon a drug loading up to 13.1% of sponge collagen particle mass was found. After incorporation of drug-loaded nanoparticles in a hydrogel, the estradiol transdermal delivery from the gel was compared with that from a commercial gel that did not contain nanoparticles. Results: Saliva samples in postmenopausal patients showed significantly higher estradiol levels after application of the gel with nanoparticles. The area under the curve (AUC) for estradiol time–concentration curves over 24 hours was 2.3- to 3.4-fold higher and estradiol levels 24 hours after administration of estradiol were at least twofold higher with the nanoparticle gel. Conclusions: The hydrogel with estradiol-loaded collagen nanoparticles enabled a prolonged estradiol release compared to a commercial gel and yielded a considerably enhanced estradiol absorption. Consequently, sponge collagen nanoparticles represent promising carriers for transdermal drug delivery.