Transdermal System Research Articles

Formulation and evaluation of transdermal patch of carbamazepine

Transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) is a widely accepted mode of drug delivery method due to various advantages and one of the novel routes for systemic delivery of drugs through intact skin. Topical drug administration is a systemic and localized method of delivering drugs through skin and is considered an attractive alternative to oral and parenteral routes. The aim of present study was to formulate and evaluate Matrix type transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) of Carbamazepine was prepared by the solvent evaporation technique. Several batches were prepared by using combination of HPMC E-15, Eudragit RL-100, and Ethyl Cellulose different ratios. Propylene glycol was used as plasticizer and DMSO was incorporated as a permeation enhancer. These Formulated transdermal patches were characterized for their physicochemical parameters like thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, percentage moisture uptake, Percentage moisture uptake and In vitro drug release studies were examined. Among the above all formulation F6 was chosen as a best Formulation, because this optimised formulation showed satisfactory drug content, physical characteristic for its thickness, weight uniformity, percentage moisture content, percentage moisture uptake, and maximum % of drug release i.e., 93.95 % in 12 hours. The optimized formulation (F6) showed maximum highest percentage of drug release.

Ethosome: An Innovative Perspective of Drug Delivery.

Ethosome offers a unique solution to the challenges faced by conventional drug delivery systems. In comparison to traditional liposomes and other nanocarriers, ethosomes exhibit a unique ability to improve drug absorption, overcoming a major limitation in the Transdermal Drug Delivery System. Their soft and flexible nano-vesicular structure facilitates faster permeation, resulting in significantly higher transdermal flux. This scientific investigation effectively traverses the changing landscape of ethosomes as an innovative drug delivery system. By conducting a thorough comparative analysis, we uncover the distinct characteristics that set them apart from other nanocarriers, offering insights into their distinct advantages. The study also includes a detailed analysis of the variables that have a complex impact on performance, elucidating transport mechanisms and addressing advanced facets pivotal for refined drug delivery strategies. This comprehensive overview highlights ethosomes as a future of medicine, offering a promising future for the safe and effective treatment of diverse diseases, impacting numerous lives.

Transdermal Delivery of Cannabidiol for the Management of Acute Inflammatory Pain: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature.

The emerging field of nanotechnology has paved the way for revolutionary advancements in drug delivery systems, with nanosystems emerging as a promising avenue for enhancing the therapeutic potential and the stability of various bioactive compounds. Among these, cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychotropic compound of the Cannabis sativa plant, has gained attention for its therapeutic properties. Consequently, researchers have devoted significant efforts to unlock the full potential of CBD's clinical benefits, where various nanosystems and excipients have emerged to overcome challenges associated with its bioavailability, stability, and controlled release for its transdermal application. Therefore, this comprehensive review aims to explain CBD's role in managing acute inflammatory pain and offers an overview of the state of the art of existing delivery systems and excipients for CBD. To summarize this review, a summary of the cannabinoids and therapeutical targets of CBD will be discussed, followed by its conventional modes of administration. The transdermal route of administration and the current topical and transdermal delivery systems will also be reviewed. This review will conclude with an overview of in vivo techniques that allow the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potentials of these systems.

A Review Article on Transdermal Drug Delivery System

When compared to more conventional drug delivery methods, transdermal administration has many benefits. High bioavailability, the lack of first pass hepatic metabolism, stable medication plasma concentrations, and the non-invasive nature of therapy are a few of these. The stratum corneum, the skin's topmost layer, is the main barrier to medication molecules penetrating it. The study of how to get beyond this layer and improve transdermal drug delivery (TDD) is therefore of great interest. The purpose of this review article is to offer a remark on the most current developments in TDD enhancement methods. Techniques to increase skin penetration have been developed to boost bioavailability and broaden the range of medications for which topical and transdermal distribution is an effective alternative. These approaches include drug selection, prodrugs and ion pairs, supersaturated drug solutions, eutectic systems, complexation, liposomes, vesicles, and particles. These enhancement strategies are centered on optimizing the interaction between the drug and the vehicle. Enhancement through hydration-induced stratum corneum change, chemical enhancers that affect the stratum corneum's lipid and keratin composition, and effects on partitioning and solubility are also covered. It is discussed how penetration enhancers and retarders work and how they could be used in therapeutic settings.

Novel extended-release transdermal formulations of the psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)

There is considerable evidence from the literature that psychedelics, such as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), are safe and effective treatments for depression. However, clinical administration to induce psychedelic effects and expensive psychotherapy-assisted treatments likely limit accessibility to the average patient. There is emerging evidence that DMT promotes positive behavioral changes in vivo at sub-hallucinogenic dosages, and depending on the target indication, subjecting patients to high, bolus dosages may not be necessary. Due to rapid metabolic degradation, achieving target levels of DMT in subjects is difficult, requiring IV administration, which poses risks to patients during the intense hallucinogenic and subjective drug effects. The chemical and physical properties of DMT make it an excellent candidate for non-invasive, transdermal delivery platforms. This paper outlines the formulation development, in vitro, and in vivo testing of transdermal drug-in-adhesive DMT patches using various adhesives and permeation enhancers. In vivo behavioral and pharmacokinetic studies were performed with lead patch formulation (F5) in male and female Swiss Webster mice, and resulting DMT levels in plasma and brain samples were quantified using LC/MS/MS. Notable differences were seen in female versus male mice during IV administration; however, transdermal administration provided consistent, extended drug release at a non-hallucinogenic dose. The IV half-life of DMT was extended by 20-fold with administration of the transdermal delivery system at sub-hallucinogenic plasma concentrations not exceeding 60 ng/mL. Results of a translational head twitch assay (a surrogate for hallucinogenic effects in non-human organisms) were consistent with absence of hallucinations at low plasma levels achieved with our TDDS. Despite the reported low bioavailability of DMT, the non-invasive transdermal DMT patch F5 afforded an impressive 77 % bioavailability compared to IV at two dosages. This unique transdermal delivery option has the potential to provide an out-patient treatment option for ailments not requiring higher, bolus doses and is especially intriguing for therapeutic indications requiring non-hallucinogenic alternatives.

Comparative study of iontophoresis-assisted transdermal delivery of bupivacaine and lidocaine as anesthetic drugs.

Postoperative pain management is an important aspect of the overall surgical care process. Effective pain management not only provides patient comfort but also promotes faster recovery and reduces the risk of complications. Bupivacaine (BUP) and Lidocaine (LID) transdermal drug deliveries via thermoplastic polyurethane matrix (TPU) and iontophoresis technique are proposed here as alternative routes for postoperative pain instead of the injection route. Under applied electric field, the amounts of BUP and LID released were 95% and 97% from the loaded amounts, which were higher than the passive patch of 40%. The time to equilibrium of BUP turned out to be faster than the time to equilibrium of LID by approximately 1.5 times. This was due to 2 factors namely the drug molecular weight and the drug pKa value; they play an important role in the selection of a suitable drug for fast-acting or long-acting for the postoperative patients. By using this transdermal patch via iontophoresis system, BUP was deemed as the suitable drug for fast-acting due to the shorter time to equilibrium, whereas LID was the suitable drug for long-acting. The in-vitro drug release - permeation study through a porcine skin indicated the efficiency and potential of the system with the amounts of drug permeated up to 76% for BUP and 81% for LID. The TPU transdermal system was demonstrated here as potential to deliver BUP and LID for postoperative patients.

Deep eutectic solvent self-assembled reverse nanomicelles for transdermal delivery of sparingly soluble drugs

BackgroundTransdermal delivery of sparingly soluble drugs is challenging due to their low solubility and poor permeability. Deep eutectic solvent (DES)/or ionic liquid (IL)-mediated nanocarriers are attracting increasing attention. However, most of them require the addition of auxiliary materials (such as surfactants or organic solvents) to maintain the stability of formulations, which may cause skin irritation and potential toxicity.ResultsWe fabricated an amphiphilic DES using natural oxymatrine and lauric acid and constructed a novel self-assembled reverse nanomicelle system (DES-RM) based on the features of this DES. Synthesized DESs showed the broad liquid window and significantly solubilized a series of sparingly soluble drugs, and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models with good prediction ability were further built. The experimental and molecular dynamics simulation elucidated that the self-assembly of DES-RM was adjusted by noncovalent intermolecular forces. Choosing triamcinolone acetonide (TA) as a model drug, the skin penetration studies revealed that DES-RM significantly enhanced TA penetration and retention in comparison with their corresponding DES and oil. Furthermore, in vivo animal experiments demonstrated that TA@DES-RM exhibited good anti-psoriasis therapeutic efficacy as well as biocompatibility.ConclusionsThe present study offers innovative insights into the optimal design of micellar nanodelivery system based on DES combining experiments and computational simulations and provides a promising strategy for developing efficient transdermal delivery systems for sparingly soluble drugs.

An Overview of Transferosomal Technology

Abstract: Ever since the invention of liposomes by Bangham in 1963, researchers have been fascinated by the vesicular carriers. Liposomes and niosomes have been used extensively by researchers for various routes such as oral and nasal. However, lately, it has been understood that traditional liposomes are not very significant when it comes to penetration. The use of nanovesicles in transdermal drug delivery systems has been enhanced exponentially ever since the discovery of ultra- deformable liposomes known as transfersomes or transferosomes. Transferosomes have numerous advantages, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, flexibility, and deformability, so that they can pass through narrow constrictions. They have good entrapment efficiency and can act as a depot to sustain the release of drugs. The methods of preparation include the rotary film evaporation method, reverse phase evaporation method, vortexing sonication method, ethanol injection method, and freeze-thaw method. Transfersomes are characterized by particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, surface morphology, and encapsulation efficiency. Transferosomes have been successfully exploited for the enhancement of efficacy of many drugs like Hydroquinone, Itraconazole, Ivabradine, lornoxicam, minoxidil etc., via transdermal and nasal routes. The technology is easy to scale up. Consequently, it can be inferred that transfersomes are the future of transdermal drug delivery systems.

Formulation of Ascorbic Acid and Betaine-based Therapeutic Deep Eutectic System for Enhanced Transdermal Delivery of Ascorbic Acid.

L-ascorbic acid (AA), a potent antioxidant, is commonly used topically in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. However, the incorporation of AA into topical formulations is difficult because of its highly unstable nature and relatively poor skin permeability. In this study, we propose an alternative strategy for improving the solubility and topical delivery of AA through its conversion to a therapeutic deep eutectic system (THEDES). AA and betaine (Bet)-based THEDESs were prepared at certain molar ratios and characterized using polarized optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Solubility tests showed that AA in the form of THEDES was readily soluble in various polyols (glycerin, 1,3-butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and 1,3-propanediol) at a high concentration (approximately 40%). Furthermore, compared to AA alone or the physical mixture of AA and Bet, AA-based THEDES significantly enhanced AA delivery through porcine skin. In an in vivo human study, THEDES-containing serum reduced the markers of aging and induced an even skin tone. These findings indicate the utility of AA and Bet-based THEDES as novel transdermal delivery systems for AA. Furthermore, our approach also showed good extension to developing gluconolactone, a well-known natural antioxidant, and Bet-based THEDES, showing potential application in transdermal delivery systems.

Statistical design and optimization of nano-transfersomes based chitosan gel for transdermal delivery of cefepime

Objectives This research aimed to overcome challenges posed by cefepime excessive elimination rate and poor patient compliance by developing transdermal delivery system using nano-transfersomes based chitosan gel. Methods Rotary evaporation-sonication method and the Box-Behnken model were used to prepare cefepime loaded nano-transfersomes (CPE-NTFs). The physiochemical characterization of CPE-NTFs were analyzed including DLS, deformability index, DSC and antimicrobial study. Optimized CPE-NTFs loaded into chitosan gel and appropriately characterized. In vitro release, ex vivo and in vivo studies were performed. Results The CPE-NTFs were physically stable with particle size 222.6 ± 1.8 nm, polydispersity index 0.163 ± 0.02, zeta potential −20.8 ± 0.1 mv, entrapment efficiency 81.4 ± 1.1% and deformability index 71 ± 0.2. DSC analysis confirmed successful drug loading and thermal stability. FTIR analysis showed no chemical interaction among the excipients of CPE-NTFs gel. The antibacterial activity demonstrated a remarkable reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration of cefepime when incorporated into nano-transfersomes. CPE-NTFs based chitosan gel (CPE-NTFs gel) showed significant physicochemical properties. In vitro release studies exhibited sustained release behavior over 24 h, and ex vivo studies indicated enhanced permeation and retention compared to conventional cefepime gel. In vivo skin irritation studies confirmed CPE-NTFs gel was nonirritating and biocompatible for transdermal delivery. Conclusion This research showed nano-transfersomes based chitosan gel is a promising approach for cefepime transdermal delivery and provides sustained release of cefepime.

Transferosome- A Noval Drug Delivery System

The skin's barrier function typically places restrictions on the transdermal administration of medications. One of the most contentious techniques for transdermal distribution of active ingredients is vesicular systems. After elastic vesicles such as transferosomes, ethosomes, cubosomes, phytosomes, etc. were discovered, there was a renewed interest in developing transdermal delivery systems. In order to provide active compounds transdermally, this paper describes the composition, penetration mechanisms, production processes, and characterization techniques of transferosomes. A medication must cross one or more biological membranes or barriers at different sites in order to be absorbed, distributed into organs and tissues, and removed from the body. Substance transport refers to the passage of a substance through a membrane in this manner. The medications must get through the membranous barrier in order to be absorbed by the body. In an effort to reduce the amount of medicine in the remaining tissues and concentrate the drug in the targeted tissues, several delivery systems were devised. As a result, the medication has no effect on the tissues nearby. Furthermore, medication loss does not occur. Furthermore, the localization of the drug prevents drug loss, resulting in the medication's optimum efficacy. As such, there is a lot of interest in phospholipid-based carrier systems nowadays.

High molecular weight hyaluronic acid-liposome delivery system for efficient transdermal treatment of acute and chronic skin photodamage

Photodamage is one of the most common causes of skin injury. High molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HHA) has shown immense potential in the treatment of skin photodamage by virtue of its anti-inflammatory, reparative, and antioxidative properties. However, due to its large molecular structure of HHA, HHA solution could only form a protective film on the skin surface in conventional application, failing to effectively penetrate the skin, which necessitates the development of new delivery strategies. Liposomes, with a structure similar to biological membranes, have garnered extensive attention as transdermal drug delivery carriers because of their advantages in permeability, dermal compatibility, and biosafety. Herein, we have developed a HHA-liposome transdermal system (HHL) by embedding HHA into the liposome structure using reverse evaporation, high-speed homogenization, and micro-jet techniques. The effective penetration and long-term residence of HHA in skin tissue were multidimensionally verified, and the kinetics of HHA in the skin were extensively studied. Moreover, it was demonstrated that HHL significantly strengthened the activity of human keratinocytes and effectively inhibits photo-induced cellular aging in vitro. Furthermore, a murine model of acute skin injury induced by laser ablation was established, where the transdermal system showed significant anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, promoting skin proliferation and scar repair, thereby demonstrating immense potential in accelerating skin wound healing. Meanwhile, HHL significantly ameliorated skin barrier dysfunction caused by simulated sunlight exposure, inhibited skin erythema, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress, and promoted collagen expression in a chronic photodamage skin model. Therefore, this transdermal delivery system with biocompatibility represents a promising new strategy for the non-invasive application of HHA in skin photodamage, revealing the significant potential for clinical translation and broad application prospects. Statement of significanceThe transdermal system utilizing hyaluronic acid-based liposomes enhances skin permeability and retains high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HHL). In vitro experiments with human keratinocytes demonstrate significant skin repair effects of HHL and its effective inhibition of cellular aging. In an acute photodamage model, HHL exhibits stronger anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, promoting skin proliferation and scar repair. In a chronic photodamage model, HHL significantly improves skin barrier dysfunction, reduces oxidative stress induced by simulated sunlight, and enhances collagen expression.

Preparation and Optimization of Olanzapine as Transdermal Nanoparticles Delivery System

Background: The treatment of schizophrenia typically involves the use of olanzapine (OLZ), a typical antipsychotic drug that has poor oral bioavailability due to its low solubility and first-pass effect. Objective: To prepare and optimize OLZ as nanoparticles for transdermal delivery to avoid problems with oral administration. Methods: The nanoprecipitation technique was applied for the preparation of eight OLZ nanoparticles by using different polymers with various ratios. Nanoparticles were evaluated using different methods, including particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency (EE%), zeta potential and an in vitro release study. The morphology was evaluated by a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and an atomic force microscope (AFM). We also perform differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results: Characterization studies of OLZ nanoparticles showed that OLZ-6 was the best formula with a particle size of 115.76 nm, a PDI of 0.24, a high EE% of 78.4%, and a high zeta potential of -19.01 mV. The in vitro release of OLZ was higher than that of other formulations. FESEM reveals the spherical shape of the nanoparticles, and AFM screening confirms that the OLZ-6 size is comparable to what the Zeta sizer finds. The DSC results confirm the purity of OLZ and the compatibility between the drug and polymer. Conclusions: OLZ-6, as a transdermal delivery system, is a promising formula to overcome the problems associated with oral drug administration and could enhance its bioavailability.

Numerical modeling of ultrasound-triggered microneedle-mediated delivery of drug particles into bacterial biofilms

Ultrasonic microneedle patches, a class of ultrasound-driven transdermal drug delivery systems, are promising in addressing bacterial biofilms. This device has been proven to be more effective in treating Staphylococcus aureus biofilms than drug in free solution. However, there exists a notable gap in understanding how various excitation conditions and material parameters affect drug delivery efficiency. This study aims to fill this void by conducting an comprehensive multi-physics numerical analysis of ultrasonic microneedle patches, with the ultimate goal of enhancing drug delivery. First, we investigate the impact of various ultrasound frequencies on drug penetration depths. The findings reveal that local resonance can accelerate drug release within a shorter time window (first 1.5 h), whereas non-resonant frequencies enable more profound and prolonged diffusion. This information is crucial for medical professionals in selecting the most effective frequency for optimal drug administration. Furthermore, our investigation extends to the effects of applied voltage on temperature distribution, a critical aspect for ensuring medical safety during the application of these patches. Additionally, we examine how particles of different sizes respond to acoustic pressure and streaming fields, providing valuable insights for tailoring drug delivery strategies to specific therapeutic needs. Overall, our findings offer comprehensive guidelines for the effective use of ultrasonic microneedle patches, potentially shifting the paradigm in patient care and enhancing the overall quality of life.

A small review on recent advances in transdermal drug delivery system

Transdermal drug delivery devices (TDDS), often known as "patches," are dosage forms designed to transfer a therapeutically effective amount of medicine over a patient's skin. Transdermal distribution establishes one of the most important channels for a revolutionary medication delivery method. Transdermal drug delivery has various advantages over traditional delivery methods, such as oral and injection; however, its efficacy is restricted. Transdermal administration traditionally entails pushing a patch containing a medicinal substance onto the skin, which is both convenient and painless, as well as therapeutic first-pass metabolism. It can deliver medications through the skin portal to systemic circulation at a predefined rate while maintaining therapeutically efficacious concentrations for an extended period of time. Around 74% of medications are taken orally, and one has been discovered to be less effective than expected.In this present review article, it covers a brief outline of various recent approaches in their development for transdermal patches.

Self-assembled gel microneedle formed by MS deep eutectic solvent as a transdermal delivery system for hyperpigmentation treatment

Hyperpigmentation (HP) is an unfavorable skin disease that typically caused by injury, inflammation, or photoaging and leads to numerous physical and psychological issues in patients. Recently, development and application of natural whitening substances, particularly compound curcumin (CUR), is one of the most prevalent treatments for HP. However, it is still a formidable challenge to improve the percutaneous delivery of CUR due to its inadequate solubility in water and excellent barrier function of skin. To overcome the limitations of conventional delivery and increase the percutaneous absorption of CUR, the efficient delivery of CUR is urgently required. Herein, we developed a new malic acid-sorbitol deep eutectic solvent (MS/DES) gel microneedle loaded with CUR as a transdermal delivery system for HP treatment. The MS/DES gel produces three-dimensional (3D) network structure by self-assembly of hydrogen bond interactions, which conferred the CUR-MS/DES-GMN with sufficient mechanical properties to successfully penetrate skin tissue while also helping to enhance the drug's release rate. The CUR-MS/DES-GMN exhibit high biocompatibility and mechanical property in vivo of mice. The zebrafish experiments also show that CUR-MS/DES gel has significant effect of anti-pigmentation. Therefore, the designed CUR-MS/DES-GMN system provides a novel strategy for HP treatment based on self-assembly of naturally molecules.

Fabrication and evaluation of gelatin cryogels for curcumin controlled release via transdermal iontophoresis

Transdermal drug delivery system delivers a drug through skin to the desired cells. Its use is limited due to the poor drug diffusion through the outer skin layer. The aim of this work was to fabricate and characterize the gelatin cryogel matrices for the targeted transdermal curcumin delivery via iontophoresis for the breast cancer treatment. The gelatin cryogels were fabricated at various concentrations under the freeze-drying method. FTIR, SEM, STA, and BET were utilized to characterize the gelatin cryogels and curcumin loaded gelatin cryogels. The curcumin release behavior was investigated under the effects of gelatin concentrations, electric fields, pig skin permeation, and pHs. The gelatin cryogel matrices possessed the interconnected pore sizes between 56.61 μm and 129.67 μm, in which the pore size increased with increasing gelatin concentration. The curcumin percentage released from the 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel was 89.7 %, relatively higher than the 0.8%v/v PSG cryogels. Under the effect of electric fields of 3V and 6V, the curcumin release percentages from the 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel were increased to reach 94.7 % and 96.0 %, respectively. For the release-permeation of curcumin through the pig skin, the curcumin release percentages from the 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel under the electric fields of 0V, 3V, and 6V became lower at 38.45 %, 46.33 %, and 72.33 %, respectively, as the pig skin was the obstacle in the curcumin diffusion. Slightly higher release rates and amounts of curcumin from the 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel were observed at the of pH 5.5 relative to the pH of 7.4, and at the electric field of 6V relative to 0V. The effect of applied electric field was shown to shorten the delivery time from the PSG cryogel. The 1.5%v/v PSG cryogel under applied electric field 6V was shown here as a potential biobased matrix to be used in the curcumin transdermal delivery via iontophoresis for cancer treatment.

Utilizing stem cell-secreted molecules as a versatile toolbox for skin regenerative medicine

Stem cells are recognized as an important target and tool in regenerative engineering. In this study, we explored the feasibility of engineering amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cell-secreted molecules (afMSC-SMs) as a versatile bioactive material for skin regenerative medicine applications in a time- and cost-efficient and straightforward manner. afMSC-SMs, obtained in powder form through ethanol precipitation, effectively contributed to preserving the self-renewal capacity and differentiation potential of primary human keratinocytes (pKCs) in a xeno-free environment, offering a potential alternative to traditional culture methods for their long-term in vitro expansion, and allowed them to reconstitute a fully stratified epithelium sheet on human dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, we demonstrated the flexibility of afMSC-SMs in wound healing and hair regrowth through injectable hydrogel and nanogel-mediated transdermal delivery systems, respectively, expanding the pool of regenerative applications. This cell-free approach may offer several potential advantages, including streamlined manufacturing processes, scalability, controlled formulation, longer shelf lives, and mitigation of risks associated with living cell transplantation. Accordingly, afMSC-SMs could serve as a promising therapeutic toolbox for advancing cell-free regenerative medicine, simplifying their broad applicability in various clinical settings.

Pluronic P123/DMSO Lyotropic Liquid Crystal for Incorporating Bioactive Substances for Topical Application.

Lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) have attracted considerably growing interest in drug delivery applications over the last years. The structure of LLC matrices is complementary to cell membranes and provides an efficient, controlled, and selective release of drugs. In this work, a complex of experimental methods was used to characterize binary LLCs Pluronic P123/DMSO and triple LLC systems Pluronic P123/DMSO/Ibuprofen, which are interesting as transdermal drug delivery systems. Liquid crystalline, thermal, and rheological properties of LLCs were studied. Concentration and temperature areas of the lyomesophase existence were found, and phase transition enthalpies were evaluated. Intermolecular interactions among the components were studied by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In vitro studies of Ibuprofen (Ibu) release from various LLCs allow differentiation of its release depending on the polymer content. Atomic force microscopy and contact angle methods were used to characterize the surface morphology of the hydrophobic membrane, which was used as a stratum corneum model, and also evaluate the adhesion work of the LLCs. A complex analysis of the results provided by these experimental methods allowed revealing correlations between the phase behavior and rheological characteristics of the LLCs and release kinetics of ibuprofen. The proposed biocompatible systems have considerable potential for a transdermal delivery of bioactive substances.

Development of a facile, versatile and scalable fabrication approach of solid, coated, and dissolving microneedle devices for transdermal drug delivery applications

Nowadays, microneedles as novel transdermal delivery systems are interested in scientists for biomedical applications. This work aims to present a Cascade Microneedle Molding Technique (CMMT) for the reusable fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds to produce microneedle devices. To produce a positive master mold from epoxy resin, a negative PDMS mold was first fabricated. PDMS can be molded, and microneedles can be fabricated using this epoxy mold in a scalable and cost-effective manner. These molds were used to manufacture solid, coated, and dissolving microneedles, which were characterized comprehensively. Microneedle morphology and geometry were evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The mechanical integrity and ability to insert the microneedle device into the skin were assessed using compression strength analysis and force-displacement measurements. Drug penetration through animal skin was evaluated for Rhodamine B (RhB) loaded microneedles. The depth of needle insertion was also visualized using histological analysis while the spatial distribution of released cargo was determined by using confocal microscopy. Taken together, CMMT offers a simple, rapid, cost-effective, and scalable method for mass-producing microneedles with remarkable properties compared to direct 3D printing or laser ablation.