Quantitative evaluation of aqueous isopropyl alcohol enhancement on skin flux of terbutaline (sulfate). 2. Permeability contributions of equilibrated drug species across human skin in vitro

Preparation, Characterisation, and Topical Delivery of Terbinafine

Terbinafine (TBF) is commonly used in the management of fungal infections of the skin because of its broad spectrum of activity. Currently, formulations containing the free base and salt form are available. However, there is only limited information in the literature about the physicochemical properties of this drug and its uptake by the skin. In this work, we conducted a comprehensive characterisation of TBF, and we also examined its percutaneous absorption in vitro in porcine skin. TBF-free base was synthesised from the hydrochloride salt by a simple proton displacement reaction. Both the free base and salt form were further analysed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Delivery of TBF-free base in excised porcine skin was investigated from the following solvents: Isopropyl myristate (IPM), propylene glycol monolaurate (PGML), Transcutol^® (TC), propylene glycol (PG), polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200), oleic acid (OL), ethanol (EtOH), and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Permeation and mass balance studies confirmed that PG and TC were the most efficacious vehicles, delivering higher amounts of TBF-free base to the skin compared with a commercial gel (p < 0.05). These preliminary results are promising and will inform the development of more complex formulations in future work.

Improvement of the skin penetration of hydrophobic drugs by polymeric micelles

Polymeric micelles, which form through the self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(amino acid) block copolymers, are systemic nanocarriers in targeted cancer therapy. These micelles can encapsulate therapeutic compounds, such as lipophilic substances, charged compounds, and metal complexes, that have characteristics of increased solubility, sustained release, and improved tissue distribution. However, few studies have been conducted on the local distribution of polymeric micelles. Thus, we evaluated the skin penetration pattern of hydrophobic drugs in polymeric micelles. We revealed that improved water solubility by the encapsulation of the hydrophobic drugs indomethacin and resveratrol in polymeric micelles significantly increased the amount of drugs penetrating into the skin. Moreover, polymeric micelles did not enhance the permeability of drugs. Furthermore, although the polymers remained on or in the stratum corneum, the encapsulated drugs gradually moved deeper into the skin. These results indicate that encapsulated hydrophobic drugs in polymeric micelles can penetrate the living cell layer of the skin without bringing about unexpected side effects associated with other ingredients in the formulation. Thus, polymeric micelles for encapsulating hydrophobic drugs can be used for skin applications.

[Enhancing effects of ion-pair complexes on skin permeation of cromolyn in vitro]

Lipophilic ion-pair complexes of 3-dl-alpha-tocopherylcarbonyl-1-n-alkyl-pyridinium-cromolyn (TAP-CG) were designed to enhance the percutaneous absorption of cromolyn (CG), and the effect of n-alkyl chainlength of the ion-pair complexes on the CG permeation through hairless mouse skin was evaluated in vitro. The permeation rates of CG were examined in isopropyl myristate (IPM) suspension using static Keshany-Chien type diffusion cells at 32 degrees C. The permeation parameters, steady-state flux, diffusion coefficient, partition coefficient between skin and IPM, and permeability coefficient were determined. Steady-state fluxes of CG increased linearly with the increasing n-alkyl chain-length of TAP-CG, and 3-dl-alpha-tocopherylcarbonyl-1-n-hexyl-pyridinium-cromolyn (THP-CG) produced the highest CG flux (0.62 +/- 0.11 nmol.cm-2.h-1), which was 14-fold greater than that of CG.Na in IPM suspension and more than 480-fold greater than that of CG.Na in aqueous solution due to increasing lipophilicity. In the case of TAP-CG with longer n-alkyl chainlength than THP-CG, however, the steady-state fluxes of CG decreased due to the high molecular weight and/or the high lipophilicity of the ion-pair complexes. It is suggested that lipophilic ion-pair complexes, especially THP-CG, are effective in absorption of cromoglicate through the skin. The results would be useful for studies on the role of each counterion in the lipophilic ion-pair complexes.

Intracellular or intercellular localization of the polar pathway of penetration across stratum corneum

A pharmacokinetic hypothesis of stratum corneum with two parallel pathways, lipophilic and porous hydrophilic, is not well documented yet. Still questionable is the localization of the pores, and the present experiments were designed to elucidate the contribution of extracellular lipids and intracellular keratin to the structure of this pathway. Percutaneous penetration of baclofen, a model zwitterion, was studied in vitro using human cadaver skin. Aqueous or ethanolic saturated solutions of the drug (Cs = 4.6 and 0.4 mg/mL, respectively) were applied on the skin that was pretreated with: methanol/chloroform (Me/Ch) or acetone-chloroform (Ac/Ch) (1:1) mixtures, or with these solvents followed by 0.2% solution of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). As controls, baclofen penetration through the intact full-thickness skin was determined, and the fluxes were 0.18 +/- 0.08 and 0.14 +/- 0.07 microg/cm2/h for aqueous and ethanolic solutions, respectively. When Me/Ch was used for 1 h, an expected increase of the penetration was observed, but the lag time, Tlag, was still nearly 20 h. When the less polar mixture, Ac/Ch, was used, no flux enhancement was observed, and with ethanol as the vehicle, decreased penetration was even noted. No effect on baclofen penetration was observed when SLS was used for 1 h after delipidization of the skin was done with either the Me/Ch or Ac/Ch mixture. The results suggest that the polar pathway may be located intercellularly and comprises aqueous regions surrounded by polar lipids, which create the walls of such microchannels.