Physical and chemical enhancement of transdermal delivery of triptorelin

Hydrogel-Crosslinked Microneedles Based on Microwave-Assisted Drying Method

We present a method and several applications for the synthesis of hydrogel-crosslinked microneedle arrays utilizing microwave-assisted drying, ensuring a significant reduction in reaction preparation time while maintaining quality. We demonstrate the feasibility of drying hydrogels using microwaves and thus extend to crosslinked microneedle fabrication. Crosslinking was performed using 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) as a crosslinking agent. Infrared spectra of the microneedle arrays were measured with attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). The surface morphology of the microneedle arrays was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microneedle arrays were evaluated in terms of mechanical strength, swelling kinetics, rheological properties, degradation rate, and glucose iontophoresis. The results show that this method can shorten the reaction preparation time by 5 hours, and the prepared crosslinked microneedle array has better crosslinking efficiency, swelling effect, and greater mechanical strength than traditional methods.

Microneedle-Mediated Permeation Enhancement of Chlorhexidine Digluconate: Mechanistic Insights Through Imaging Mass Spectrometry

PURPOSE

Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) is a first-line antiseptic agent typically applied to the skin as a topical solution prior to surgery due to its efficacy and safety profile. However, the physiochemical properties of CHG limits its cutaneous permeation, preventing it from reaching potentially pathogenic bacteria residing within deeper skin layers. Thus, the utility of a solid oscillating microneedle system, Dermapen®, and a CHG-hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) gel were investigated to improve the intradermal delivery of CHG.

METHODS

Permeation of CHG from the commercial product, Hibiscrub®, and HEC-CHG gels (containing 1% or 4% CHG w/w) was assessed in intact skin, or skin that had been pre-treated with microneedles of different array numbers, using an Franz diffusion cells and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS).

RESULTS

Gels containing 1% and 4% CHG resulted in significantly increased depth permeation of CHG compared to Hibiscrub® (4% w/v CHG) when applied to microneedle pre-treated skin, with the effect being more significant with the higher array number. ToF-SIMS analysis indicated that the depth of dermal penetration achieved was sufficient to reach the skin strata that typically harbours pathogenic bacteria, which is currently inaccessible by Hibiscrub®, and showed potential lateral diffusion within the viable epidermis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that HEC-CHG gels applied to microneedle pre-treated skin may be a viable strategy to improve the permeation CHG into the skin. Such enhanced intradermal delivery may be of significant clinical utility for improved skin antisepsis in those at risk of a skin or soft tissue infection following surgical intervention.

Iontophoretic skin permeation of peptides: an investigation into the influence of molecular properties, iontophoretic conditions and formulation parameters

The transdermal route offers advantages for delivery of peptides and proteins. However, these polar and large molecules do not permeate the skin barrier well. Various enhancement methods have been employed to address this problem. Iontophoresis is one of the methods that shows promise but its application to peptide delivery has yet to be fully explored. This study investigates the effects of different molecular properties and iontophoretic conditions on the skin permeation of peptides. In this study, the permeation of alanine-tryptophan dipeptide (MW 276 Da), alanine-alanine-proline-valine tetrapeptide (MW 355 Da), Argireline® (Acetyl hexapeptide-3, MW 889 Da) and Triptorelin acetate (decapeptide, MW 1311 Da) through excised human skin under passive or iontophoretic current of 0.4 mA was investigated. The effects of pH change (3.0-7.4, to provide different net negative, neutral, and positive charges) to the peptide, donor concentration (1-10 mg/ml), background electrolyte (34-137 mM NaCl and/or 5-20 mM HEPES) and current direction (anodal vs cathodal) were also studied. Peptides were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography or liquid scintillation counting. Iontophoresis led up to a 30 times increase in peptide permeation relative to passive permeation for the peptides. Electroosmosis was an important determinant of the total flux for the high molecular weight charged peptides. Electrorepulsion was found to be considerable for low molecular weight charged moieties. Permeation was decreased at lower pH, possibly due to decreased electroosmosis. Results also showed that 10 times increase in donor peptide concentration increases permeation of peptides by about 2-4 times and decreases iontophoretic permeability coefficients by about 2.5-5 times. The addition of extra background electrolyte decreased the iontophoretic permeation coefficient of peptides by 2-60 times. This study shows that iontophoretic permeation of peptides is affected by a number of parameters that can be optimized for effective transdermal peptide delivery.

Stability of triptorelin in the presence of dermis and epidermis

An important issue with respect to the transdermal delivery of peptides is their stability during transit through the epidermis and dermis before entry into the systemic circulation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of epidermal and dermal tissue on the stability of the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone superagonist, triptorelin. The decapeptide was dissolved in PBS (pH 7.4) and placed in contact with (i) heat separated epidermis (HSE), (ii) dermatomed skin (0.75 mm; DS) and (iii) full thickness skin (FTS) and the extent of peptide biotransformation monitored as a function of time by HPLC. The results showed that triptorelin was metabolized when in contact with each of the skin tissues. However, there were marked differences with respect to the extent of peptide degradation. Triptorelin was least stable in the presence of FTS. After 3 h exposure to HSE, DS and FTS, the extent of triptorelin degradation was 15.0+/-6.0%, 64.8+/-9.9% and 100%, respectively. After 24 h, further triptorelin degradation had occurred in the samples in contact with HSE and DS--with 51.3+/-6.0% and 87.8+/-4.4%, respectively, of the peptide being degraded. The chromatograms revealed the presence of a degradation peak at a higher retention time than the parent molecule--most probably the free acid.

Suitability of Excised Rabbit Ear Skin—Fresh and Frozen—for Evaluating Transdermal Permeation of Estradiol

Estradiol transdermal application still represents a relevant topic due to the recent controversies about hormone replacement therapy, its increasing potential in the treatment of skin aging and wound healing, and the new use of its derivatives in the transdermal contraceptive treatment. The aim of our work was to verify if fresh or frozen rabbit ear skin can be a suitable skin model to study in vitro estradiol transdermal absorption. Fresh rabbit ear skin demonstrated a reasonable model of human epidermis in the investigation of estradiol permeation starting from both solutions and commercial patches.

Single-layer transdermal film containing lidocaine: Modulation of drug release

We have recently described an innovative drug delivery system, a water-based and vapor permeable film intended for dermal and/or transdermal delivery. The aim of this work was to modulate the delivery of the model drug lidocaine hydrochloride from the transdermal film across rabbit ear skin. The effect of drug loading, of film-forming polymer type and content, of adhesive and plasticizer on lidocaine transport across the skin was evaluated. Additional objective was to evaluate the effect of occlusion on the kinetics of lidocaine transport, by applying an occlusive backing on the surface of the transdermal film. From the data obtained it can be concluded that the transdermal film acts as a matrix controlling drug delivery. The film-forming polymer molecular weight had a negligible effect on drug penetration, while its content was more effective. The choice of the adhesive seems to be the most important variable governing drug transport. In particular, the presence of lauric acid combined with a basic drug, such as lidocaine, can produce a relevant improvement in permeation, because of the formation of an ion pair. Concerning the kinetics, drug depletion is responsible for the declining permeation rates observed in the late times of permeation.

New transdermal bioadhesive film containing oxybutynin: In vitro permeation across rabbit ear skin

Oxybutynin is used extensively in the treatment of patients with overactive bladder. The aim of this work was to realize and test in vitro a new transdermal bioadhesive film containing oxybutynin. Transdermal films were prepared by dissolving in water an adhesive (Plastoid), a film-forming polymer (polyvinyl alcohol), a plasticizer (sorbitol) and the drug. The mixture was then spread on siliconized paper and oven-dried. Permeation experiments were conducted in Franz-type diffusion cells using rabbit ear skin as barrier. The donor compartment contained a water solution, the prepared film (with or without backing) or the commercial patch (Oxytrol). The experiments were performed for 24h. Oxybutynin showed good permeation characteristics across the skin. When the film was applied in occlusive conditions the release profiles were much higher than in non-occlusive conditions, reaching 50% of drug permeated after 24h. Compared to the commercial patch Oxytrol, the film was more efficient suggesting that a smaller area or a lower drug loading could be employed. The results obtained show that the bioadhesive film can be a promising and innovative therapeutic system for the transdermal administration of oxybutynin.

Transdermal Iontophoretic Delivery of Triptorelin in Vitro

The feasibility of delivering triptorelin ([D-Trp6]LHRH) by transdermal iontophoresis was evaluated in vitro. Peptide electrotransport at different current densities and donor concentrations was measured across porcine ear skin. The concomitant delivery of an electroosmotic marker enabled calculation of the respective contributions of electromigration (EM) and electroosmosis (EO) to iontophoretic delivery. At a given concentration (3 mM), a threefold increase in current density produced a corresponding increase in the cumulative amount of peptide present in the receptor compartment. Conversely, doubling the concentration to 6 mM produced a twofold reduction in the amount of peptide delivered, partly due to a concentration-dependent inhibition of EO. EM was revealed to be the predominant transport mechanism, accounting for 80% of overall delivery. Finally, despite the inhibition of EO, the results indicate that application of an iontophoretic current of 0.8 mA over a relatively small contact area (4 cm2) would provide a delivery rate of 36 microg/h, largely sufficient for therapeutic requirements.

Effect of lactic acid and iontophoresis on drug permeation across rabbit ear skin

The aim of this paper was to explore the efficacy of lactic acid as permeation enhancer for drug molecules across the skin. Three model permeants were chosen: acetaminophen (non-ionized), buspirone hydrochloride (cationic drug) and ibuprofen lysine (anionic drug). We also explored the association of lactic acid and iontophoresis as a means of enhancing drug delivery. Permeation experiments were performed in vitro, using rabbit ear skin as barrier. The results obtained indicate that lactic acid has some effects on model drug permeation across the skin. The effect was more evident with the anionic drug ibuprofen. Cathodal intophoresis increased ibuprofen transport, but when lactic acid was associated with cathodal iontophoresis, a concentration-dependent reduction of ibuprofen iontophoretic flux was observed, probably for the competition by the co-ion. The application of electric current (anodal iontophoresis) to a solution of acetaminophen produced an increase in its transport, due to the presence of an electroosmotic contribution; however, the effect of the association of anodal iontophoresis and lactic acid produced no further enhancement.

Effect of chemical enhancers and iontophoresis on thiocolchicoside permeation across rabbit and human skin in vitro

The aim of this work was to study the permeation of thiocolchicoside across the skin in vitro. The effect of the chemical enhancer lauric acid and the physical technique of iontophoresis was investigated. Permeation experiments were performed in vitro using rabbit ear skin as barrier. The effect of lauric acid at different concentrations (2% and 4%) and of the vehicle (water, ethanol, or ethanol/water) was investigated. The primary effect of lauric acid was on the partitioning parameter, whereas the diffusive parameter did not change significantly. When human epidermis was used, the permeation parameters were generally lower, although not significantly different from rabbit ear skin. The data obtained with full-thickness human skin indicate that, despite the hydrophilic nature of thiocolchicoside, the resistance to drug transport is not limited to the stratum corneum, but that the underlying dermal tissue can also contribute. Iontophoresis enhanced the flux of thiocolchicoside compared with the passive control. The mechanism by which iontophoresis enhanced thiocolchicoside transport across the skin was electroosmosis. The permeation of thiocolchicoside across the skin can be enhanced using chemical or physical penetration enhancers.

Mechanistic studies of flux variability of neutral and ionic permeants during constant current dc iontophoresis with human epidermal membrane

Although constant current iontophoresis is supposed to provide constant transdermal transport, significant flux variability and/or time-dependent flux drifts are observed during iontophoresis with human skin in vitro and human studies in vivo. The objectives of the present study were to determine (a) the causes of flux variability in constant current dc transdermal iontophoresis and (b) the relationships of flux variabilities among permeants of different physicochemical properties. Changes in the human epidermal membrane (HEM) effective pore size and/or electroosmosis during constant current dc iontophoresis were examined. Tetraethylammonium ion (TEA), urea, and mannitol were the model permeants. For the neutral permeants, the results in the present study showed a significant increase of fluxes with time in a given experiment and large HEM sample-to-sample variability. Although both effective pore size and pore charge density variations contributed to the time-dependent flux drifts observed in electroosmotic transport, the significant flux drifts observed were found to be primarily a result of the time-dependent increase in effective pore charge density. For the ionic permeant, the observed flux variability was smaller than that of the neutral permeants and was believed to be primarily due to effective pore size alteration in HEM during iontophoresis as suggested in a previous study. The different extents of flux variability observed between neutral and ionic permeants are consistent with the different iontophoretically enhanced transport mechanisms for the neutral and ionic permeants (i.e. electroosmosis and electrophoresis, respectively). The results of the present study also demonstrate that flux variability of two neutral permeants are inter-related, so the flux of one neutral permeant can be predicted if the permeability coefficient of the other neutral permeant is known.