Enhancement Of Percutaneous Absorption Research Articles

Preparation and In vitro Characterization of Aceclofenac Nanosuspension (ACNS) for Enhancement of Percutaneous Absorption using Hydrogel Dosage Form

Aceclofenac (AC) is an orally active phenyl acetic acid derivative, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with exceptional anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties. It has low aqueous solubility, leading to slow dissolution, low permeability and inadequate bioavailability. The aim of the current study was to prepare and characterize AC-NS-based gel to enhance the dissolution rate and then percutaneous permeability. NS.s were prepared using solvent/antisovent precipitation method at different drug to polymer ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 1:3) using different polymers such as poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP-K25), hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC-E5) and poloxamer® (388) as stabilizers alone and in combinations of two polymers (1:2 and 1:4 Drug: polymer ratio). Fifteen formulas of AC-NS.s were prepared and characterized for production yield, loading efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index and physical stability. The best formulas of NS were then lyophilized to be characterized by FTIR, DSC, P-XRD and SEM. After that, the best prepared formula of AC-NS regarding the involved characterization methods was incorporated in gel dosage forms using carbopol®940. From this study, we conclude that the dissolution rate and permeability of AC were improved when the particle size was reduced to Nano-scale as compared with pure drug.

Comparison of atmospheric microplasma and plasma jet irradiation for increasing of skin permeability

Atmospheric plasma is attracting interest for medical applications such as sterilization, treatment of cancer cells and blood coagulation. Application of atmospheric plasma in dermatology has potential as a novel tool for wound healing, skin rejuvenation and treatment of wrinkles. In this study, we investigated the enhancement of percutaneous absorption of dye as alternative agents of transdermal drugs. Hypodermic needles are often the only way to deliver large-molecule drugs into the dermis, although a safe transdermal drug delivery method that does not require needles would be desirable. We therefore explored the feasibility of using atmospheric microplasma irradiation to enhance percutaneous absorption of drugs, as an alternative delivery method to conventional hypodermic needles. Pig skin was used as a biological sample, exposed to atmospheric microplasma, and analyzed by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A tape stripping test, a representative method for evaluating skin barrier performance, was also conducted for comparison. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured and compared with and without atmospheric microplasma irradiation, to quantify water evaporation from the inner body through the skin barrier. The results show that the stratum corneum, the outermost skin layer, could be chemically and physically modified by atmospheric microplasma irradiation. Physical damage to the skin by microplasma irradiation and an atmospheric plasma jet was also assessed by observing the skin surface. The results suggest that atmospheric microplasma has the potential to enhance percutaneous absorption.

Novel method to improve transdermal drug delivery by atmospheric microplasma irradiation.

Application of atmospheric plasma could be used for wound healing, skin rejuvenation, and wrinkle treatment. The authors explored the feasibility of atmospheric microplasma irradiation (AMI) for enhancement of percutaneous absorption of drugs as an alternative to hypodermic needles. Pig skin was used as a biological sample exposed to AMI and analyzed by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A tape-stripping test (an evaluation method for skin-barrier performance) was also conducted to compare with AMI. Transepidermal water loss was also measured and compared with and without AMI. Results showed that surface modification of the stratum corneum (outermost skin layer) was observed upon AMI. Small pores on sample skin were observed with plasma jet irradiation due to the collision of charged particles. Percutaneous absorption was confirmed without damage upon microplasma irradiation. Our data suggested that dye pathways through skin samples could be related to the dynamic behavior of intercellular lipid bilayers, suggesting that AMI could enhance percutaneous absorption.

Quantitative evaluation of sonophoresis efficiency and its dependence on sonication parameters and particle size.

Transdermal drug delivery makes a critical contribution to medical practice and some advantages over conventional oral administration and hypodermic injection. Enhancement of percutaneous absorption or penetration of therapeutic agents (ie, drugs and macromolecules) by ultrasound, termed sonophoresis, has been applied and studied for decades. In this study, the penetration percentage through porcine ear skin specimens was determined quantitatively by measuring the fluorescence from nanoparticles of 60, 220, and 840 nm in size in a receptor chamber at different sonication parameters (ie, duty cycle, 20%-100%; acoustic intensity, 0.3-1.0 W/cm(2); duration, 7-30 minutes; and frequency, 1 MHz). In general, the sonophoresis efficiency increased with the acoustic intensity, duty cycle, and sonication duration but decreased with the particle size (mean ± SD, 62.6% ± 5.4% for 60-nm versus 11.9% ± 1.1% for 840-nm polystyrene nanospheres after 30 minutes of sonication at 0.5 W/cm(2) and a 100% duty cycle; P < .05). On scanning electron microscopy the pore size remained the same (≈100 μm), but more flakes were observed with the progress of sonication. In summary, sonophoresis efficiency is dependent on the ultrasound parameters and particle size. Sufficient sonication would lead to satisfactory penetration of even submicrometer objects through the pores.

Biological Effects and Enhancement of Percutaneous Absorption on Skin by Atmospheric Microplasma Irradiation

Biological Effects and Enhancement of Percutaneous Absorption on Skin by Atmospheric Microplasma Irradiation

Interview With Richard H Guy

Richard Guy received an MA in chemistry from Oxford University (Oxford, UK), and his PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of London (London, UK). He has held academic posts at the University of California, San Francisco (CA, USA), and the University of Geneva (Geneva, Switzerland). In 2004, he joined the University of Bath (Bath, UK) as Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Professor Guy‘s research focuses on skin barrier function characterization, transdermal drug delivery, enhancement of percutaneous absorption, iontophoresis, noninvasive biosensing and the prediction and assessment of skin penetration and topical bioavailability. Interview conducted by Hannah Coaker, Assistant Commissioning Editor

Encapsulation of a Flavonoid-rich Allium cepa L. var. agrogatum Don Extract in β-Cyclodextrin for Transdermal Drug Delivery

This work aims to evaluate the encapsulation of a flavonoid-rich Allium cepa L. var. agrogatum Don extract (ACADFE) in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) by analyzing the percutaneous penetration in vitro and in vivo, leading to an explanation of the physical mechanism during transdermal transport. The optimal inclusion compound containing ACADFE in β-CD was prepared in a 1:3 molar ratio. The physicochemical characterization of the inclusion complex was performed using IR, UV-vis, simultaneous thermogravimetry (TG), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) studies. It was concluded that the inclusion complex could improve the aqueous solubility and bioavailability of ACADFE. The inclusion complex exhibited significant enhancement of percutaneous absorption both in vitro and in vivo. The dorsal skins of hairless mice were photographed using a confocal scanning laser microscope. Confocal scanning laser microscopy shows that penetration of the ACADFE-β-CD inclusion complex proceeds across skin via both follicular and transcellular routes.

In vitro percutaneous absorption enhancement of granisetron by chemical penetration enhancers

Granisetron (GRN), a potent antiemetic agent, is frequently used to prevent nausea and vomiting induced by cancer cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy.Objective: As part of our efforts to further modify the physicochemical properties of this market drug, with the ultimate goal to formulate a better dosage form for GRN, this work was carried out to improve its permeability in vitro.Methods: The permeation behavior of GRN in isopropyl myristate (IPM) was investigated across excised rabbit abdominal skin and the enhancing activities of three novel O-acylmenthol derivatives synthesized in our laboratory as well as five well-known chemical enhancers were evaluated.Results: It was found that the steady-state flux of granisetron free base (GRN-B) was about 26-fold higher than that of granisetron hydrochloride (GRN-H). The novel enhancer, 2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl heptanoate (M-HEP), was observed to provide the most significant enhancement for the absorption of GRN-B. When incorporated in the donor solution with the optimal enhancer M-HEP, the steady-state flux of GRN-B increased from (196.44 ± 12.03) μg·cm−2·h−1 to (1044.95 ± 71.99) μg·cm−2·h−1 (P < 0.01).Conclusion: These findings indicated that the application of chemical enhancers was an effective approach to increase the percutaneous absorption of GRN in vitro.

Sugar Ester J-1216 Enhances Percutaneous Permeation of Ionized Lidocaine

Percutaneous absorption enhancers affect not only the permeability of skin but also the thermodynamic properties of active ingredients in the vehicle. The present study examined the effect of J-1216, a sucrose laurate with hydrophilic–lipophilic balance = 16, on the percutaneous permeation of lidocaine (LC) from this point of view. The percutaneous permeation of LC from aqueous vehicles (pH 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and 10.0) with or without 1.5% J-1216 was examined with excised hairless mouse skin mounted on flow-through-type diffusion cell. The permeation of LC without J-1216 increased with an increase in the vehicle pH and could be basically explained by pH-partition theory. J-1216 increased the LC permeation at pH 6.0 and 7.0 but decreased it at pH 8.0 and 10.0. The interaction between LC and J-1216 was examined using an ultrafiltration technique. J-1216 micelles interacted predominantly with unionized LC. A theoretical calculation suggested that J-1216 enhances the permeability coefficient of ionized LC, whereas it has almost no effect on that of unionized free LC. J-1216 directly affects the skin to increase the permeation of ionized LC, whereas J-1216 micelles interact with unionized LC to decrease the permeation. The effect of J-1216 is therefore a function of vehicle pH and LC concentration. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 100:4482–4490, 2011

Development of a new delivery system consisting in “drug – in cyclodextrin – in nanostructured lipid carriers” for ketoprofen topical delivery

A new delivery system based on drug cyclodextrin (Cd) complexation and loading into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) has been developed to improve ketoprofen therapeutic efficacy. The proposed strategy exploits both the solubilizing and stabilizing properties of Cds and the prolonged release, high tolerability and percutaneous absorption enhancer properties of NLC. Two different polymeric Cds, i.e. β-Cd-epichlorohydrin polymer (EPI-βCd) and carboxymethylathed-β-Cd-epichlorohydrin polymer (EPI-CMβCd) were tested and two different techniques to obtain solid ketoprofen-polymeric Cd complexes (i.e. co-grinding and co-lyophilization) were compared, to investigate the influence of the preparation method on the physicochemical properties of the end product. EPI-βCd was more effective than EPI-CMβCd in enhancing the solubility and dissolution properties of ketoprofen. Co-grinding in dry conditions was the best preparation technique of solid drug-Cd systems, allowing obtainment of homogeneous amorphous particles of nanometric range. NLC consisting in a mixture of Compritol® 888 ATO (glyceryl behenate) and Labrafac Lipophile were obtained by ultrasonication. Both empty and loaded NLC were suitably characterized for particle size, pH, entrapment efficiency and drug release behavior. The best (drug-Cd)-loaded NLC system, formulated into a xanthan hydrogel, exhibited drug permeation properties clearly better than those of the plain drug suspension or the plain drug-loaded NLC, in virtue of the simultaneous exploitation of the solubilizing effect of cyclodextrin and the penetration enhancer properties of NLC.

ChemInform Abstract: Transdermal Delivery of Drugs and Enhancement of Percutaneous Absorption

This paper describes 1) the drug delivery through the skin to produce systemic effects, 2) the enhancement of percutaneous absorption by absorption enhancers, heating and complex formation, 3) the mechanism for the enhancement effect by enhancers, 4) the percutaneous absorption of peptides, and 5) the pharmacokinetic analysis for percutaneous absorption. 1,3-Dinitroglycerin, indomethacin (IND) and many drugs were efficiently absorbed via rat and rabbit skins in the presence of some enhancers, and using a microporous membrane therapeutic plasma concentrations were maintained for a long time. Enhancement of percutaneous absorption by the complex formation with fatty acid was observed for propranolol (PL) in vitro and in vivo. Heating at 42-45 degrees C also enhanced the percutaneous absorption dramatically, with decreased activation energies. The following mechanisms for the enhancement effect by enhancers were found: a) an increase in the fluidity of the stratum corneum lipids and reduction in the diffusional resistance to permeants, b) the removal of intercellular lipids and dilation between adherent cornified cells, c) an increase in the thermodynamic activity of drugs in vehicles, d) the exfoliation of stratum corneum cell membranes, the dissociation of adherent cornified cells and elimination of the barrier function. Peptides such as enkephalin, elcatonin and insulin were effectively absorbed through the skin in the presence of some enhancers and specific inhibitors, with no proteolytic degradation. The pharmacokinetic model with two parallel absorption processes, lipidic and aqueous pore transport pathways, in skin could adequately describe the percutaneous absorption of IND, PL and valproic acid. With peptides, a kinetic model including zero-order input rate, first-order permeation rate and first-order degradation rate was able to describe well the steady-state flux of peptides.

Enhancement of percutaneous absorption of Finasteride by cosolvents, cosurfactant and surfactants

The enhancing effects of routinely used co-solvents, propylene glycol and 2-propanol, anionic and cationic surfactants and a co-surfactant with different concentrations were evaluated on the skin permeation of Finasteride. In vitro permeation experiments with rat skin revealed that the solvent mixture is a very important factor in the penetration of Finasteride through the skin. Unexpectedly, cationic and anionic surfactants in various concentrations did not show any enhancement effect on drug transdermal absorption but co-surfactant Transcutol P increased skin penetration of Finastride significantly. Transcutol P with 0.25% and 1% showed the best enhancement in the initial and final sampling time, respectively. Transcutol P in a concentration of 0.25% increased skin absorption of the drug nearly 3.6 times in the first 15 min. The highest enhancement ratio (ER) was gained in the presence of 1% Transcutol P (ER = 5.98). In this study, among the different topical Finastride formulations, Transcutol P 1% in combination with water, propylene glycol and 2-propanol (30, 10, and 60) showed the highest enhancement ratio.

Mechanism of In Vitro Percutaneous Absorption Enhancement of Carvedilol by Penetration Enhancers

The effect of penetration enhancers like tulsi (basil) oil, eucalyptus oil, clove oil, black cumin oil, oleic acid and Tween 80 on the percutaneous absorption of model lipophilic drug-carvedilol was investigated using excised rat abdominal skin. Transdermal flux, permeability coefficient and enhancement factor were calculated for each penetration enhancer. Black cumin oil (5% v/v) was selected on the basis of its highest enhancement in permeation and was evaluated further for its mode of action using DSC, FTIR and histological studies. The results indicated that the oil shows its action by extraction of lipids from stratum corneum as well as by loosening the hydrogen bonds between ceramides subsequently leading to fluidization of the lipid bilayer.

Percutaneous absorption enhancers: mechanisms and potential

Transdermal applications of drugs present many advantages in terms of absorption, however this is not easily obtained through the transdermal route. The principle barrier is the stratum corneum and one of the strategies that have been found to promote cutaneous drug penetration is through the use of absorption enhancers. Many substances have been identified as absorption enhancers. Although the list of substances that promote absorption is growing, in most cases, there is a direct correlation between the effects of absorption enhancers and their skin toxicity. The use of these substances depends therefore on studies which focus on local and systemic toxicity, as well as action mechanisms.

Transdermal delivery of penetrants with differing lipophilicities using O-acylmenthol derivatives as penetration enhancers

To develop more effective compounds as penetration enhancers, O-acylmenthol derivatives were synthesized by l-menthol and saturated fatty acid, O-ethylmenthol (MET), was also synthesized as a reference compound. Their promoting activity on the percutaneous absorption of five model drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), lidocaine (LD), ketoprofen (KP), indomethacin (IM), which were selected based on their lipophilicity represented by log K O/W, was tested in vitro across full thickness rat skin with each of the evaluated drugs in saturated donor solution. Only 2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl tetradecanoate (C14 alkyl chain) had promoting effects on the percutaneous permeation of 5-FU; 2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl hexanoate (C6 alkyl chain), which increased the permeation coefficient ( P) 1.91-fold, had the highest permeation for ISDN; in the case of LD, the highest increase in P was observed with 2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl heptanoate (C7 alkyl chain), which increased the P by 1.58-fold; MET, which increased the P by 2.02-fold, provided the best enhancement for KP; 2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl heptanoate (C7 alkyl chain) produced the highest increase in P, 3.70-fold for IM. These results suggest that some newly designed percutaneous absorption enhancers have the potential to enhance drugs with different lipophilicities. A chain length of C6–C10 seemed to be favorable for lipophilic drugs, while C14 was the most effective enhancer for hydrophilic drug (5-FU).

Pentane-1,5-diol as a percutaneous absorption enhancer

Propylene glycol (propane-1,2-diol) is the only diol widely used in dermatology. Pentane-1,5-diol is mainly used as a plasticizer in cellulose products and adhesives, in dental composites and in brake fluid compositions and as a preservative for grain. However, pentane-1,5-diol is also an effective solvent, water-binding substance, antimicrobial agent and preservative and may therefore replace several ingredients in a skin composition. The release of tri-iodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) and percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone and mometasone furoate with either pentane-1,5-diol or propane-1,2-diol and 2-methyl-pentane-2,4-diol (hexylene glycol), respectively, as enhancers was compared. The release of TRIAC was 21% higher when pentane-1,5-diol was used as an enhancer instead of propane-1,2-diol. The percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone through the skin was increased 12 times with propane-1,2-diol compared to 4.4 times with pentane-1,5-diol. However, the percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone into the skin was 50% higher with pentane-1,5-diol compared to propane-1,2-diol. There was no significant difference, between the original mometasone furoate cream, with 2-methyl-pentane-2,4-diol, and the new cream with pentane-1,5-diol in the amount of mometasone furoate that was absorbed into the skin and through the skin. However, the cosmetic properties of the new mometasone furoate cream was superior to the original mometasone furoate cream, for examples, no bad odour, more even texture, goes better into the skin and has less greasiness. Pentane-1,5-diol can be used as a technology platform, which adds a series of desirable properties to dermatological preparations and enhances product usability. This will result in improved formulations for a series of major and commonly used dermatological drugs. When used in pharmaceutical topical preparations, pentane-1,5-diol will increase the percutaneous absorption of the active substance and it is an efficient antimicrobial agent that will act as an effective preservative in topical formulations. Pentane-1,5-diol is cosmetically attractive, has low risk for skin and eye irritation compared to other diols, low toxicity risk and no bad odour.

S-Nitrosoglutathione incorporated in poly(ethylene glycol) matrix: potential use for topical nitric oxide delivery

Incorporation of nitric oxide (NO) donors in non-toxic polymeric matrices can be a useful strategy for allowing topical NO delivery. We have incorporated the NO-donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) into a liquid poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/H 2O matrix through the S-nitrosation of GSH by a NO/O 2 gas mixture. Kinetic measurements of GSNO decomposition associated with NO release were performed at 25, 35, and 45 °C in the dark and under irradiation with UV/Vis light, λ > 480 nm and λ = 333 nm. NO release from the liquid matrix to the gas phase was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The PEG/H 2O matrix stabilizes GSNO leading to expressive reductions in the initial rates of thermal and photochemical NO release, compared to aqueous GSNO solution. This matrix effect is assigned to diffusional constrains imposed on the escape of the NO and GS radicals formed in the solvent cage. This effect allows the storage of PEG-GSNO formulations for extended periods (more than 65 days at freezer) with negligible decomposition. PEG-GSNO formulation seems therefore to be applicable in topical NO delivery and GSNO displays potential as a percutaneous absorption enhancer. Moreover, the rate of NO release can be locally increased by irradiation with visible light.

Feline penile erection induced by topical glans penis application of combination alprostadil and SEPA (Topiglan).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topically applied prostaglandin E1 (PGE(1))+5% SEPA (soft enhancement of percutaneous absorption) on the glans penis in a feline erection model. Erectile response after glans penis administration of PGE(1)+5% SEPA cream (Topiglan, MacroChem Co., Lexington, MA, USA) was compared to the erectile response after intracavernosal administration of the triple-drug combination (1.65 mg papaverine, 25 microg phentolamine, and 0.5 microg PGE(1)). The placebo cream and increasing concentrations (0.25%, 2.5 mg/ml; 0.5%, 5 mg/ml; and 1%, 10 mg/ml) of PGE(1)+5% SEPA were applied in a total volume of 0.1 ml via a plastic needle-less syringe. The control triple-drug combination was administrated intracavernosally via a 30-gauge needle at the completion of each experiment to serve as a control reference. With each application of placebo, PGE(1)+SEPA, and the triple-drug combination, changes in intracavernosal pressure and systemic blood pressure were continuously monitored. Topical application of PGE(1)+SEPA induced increases in intracavernosal pressure in a dose-dependent manner, with minimal effects on systemic blood pressure. The increases obtained with 1% PGE(1) Topiglan cream were similar to the intracavernosal pressure values elicited by the standard intracavernosal triple-drug combination. These data demonstrate that topical glans penis application of PGE(1)+SEPA can induce an erectile response in cats with minimal systemic adverse effects. Oral pharmacological agents are the first-line treatment for male ED. Studies investigating the effectiveness of noninvasive modalities such as topical therapy should continue, because these agents have the potential to avoid the systemic effects commonly seen with oral therapies. Additionally, topical therapy may also benefit patients who are unresponsive to oral agents or have explicit contraindications. Topical PGE(1) application to the glans penis may become an important treatment option in selected patients suffering from erectile dysfunction.

Ultrasound enhancement of percutaneous drug absorption

A system for enhancing and improving the transcutaneous or transdermal delivery of topical chemicals or drugs. A disposable container contains a substantially sterile unit dose of an active agent adapted for a single use in a medical treatment. The unit dose is formulated to enhance transport of the active agent through mammalian skin when the active agent is applied to the skin and the skin is exposed to light and/or ultrasound defined by at least one specific parameter.

Simultaneous optimization based on artificial neural networks in ketoprofen hydrogel formula containing O-ethyl-3-butylcyclohexanol as percutaneous absorption enhancer

The influence of the amounts of additives including 1-O-ethyl-3-n-butylcyclohexanol (OEBC), diisopropyl adipate (DIA), and isopropanol (IPA) on the penetration rate (Rp) of ketoprofen from hydrogels through rat skin in vivo was investigated. Skin irritation evoked by the application of hydrogels was evaluated based on a microscopic observation of skin cross-sections. Both optimization techniques incorporating an artificial neural network (ANN) and a second-order polynomial regression analysis were applied to the optimization of ketoprofen hydrogel formulations. Findings indicated that the Rp and total irritation score (TIS) of the skin were predicted quantitatively as a function of quantities of OEBC, DIA, and IPA, employing ANN. In contrast, the prediction ability of the polynomial regression equation was somewhat poorer compared with that of ANN. The observed results of Rp and TIS in the optimal formulation coincided well with the predictions in the simultaneous optimization technique incorporating ANN. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:1004–1014, 2001