Veterinary drug delivery: potential for skin penetration enhancement

A range of topical products are used in veterinary medicine. The efficacy of many of these products has been enhanced by the addition of penetration enhancers. Evolution has led to not only a highly specialized skin in animals and humans, but also one whose anatomical structure and skin permeability differ between the various species. The skin provides an excellent barrier against the ingress of environmental contaminants, toxins, and microorganisms while performing a homeostatic role to permit terrestrial life. Over the past few years, major advances have been made in the field of transdermal drug delivery. An increasing number of drugs are being added to the list of therapeutic agents that can be delivered via the skin to the systemic circulation where clinically effective concentrations are reached. The therapeutic benefits of topically applied veterinary products is achieved in spite of the inherent protective functions of the stratum corneum (SC), one of which is to exclude foreign substances from entering the body. Much of the recent success in this field is attributable to the rapidly expanding knowledge of the SC barrier structure and function. The bilayer domains of the intercellular lipid matrices within the SC form an excellent penetration barrier, which must be breached if poorly penetrating drugs are to be administered at an appropriate rate. One generalized approach to overcoming the barrier properties of the skin for drugs and biomolecules is the incorporation of suitable vehicles or other chemical compounds into a transdermal delivery system. Indeed, the incorporation of such compounds has become more prevalent and is a growing trend in transdermal drug delivery. Substances that help promote drug diffusion through the SC and epidermis are referred to as penetration enhancers, accelerants, adjuvants, or sorption promoters. It is interesting to note that many pour-on and spot-on formulations used in veterinary medicine contain inert ingredients (e.g., alcohols, amides, ethers, glycols, and hydrocarbon oils) that will act as penetration enhancers. These substances have the potential to reduce the capacity for drug binding and interact with some components of the skin, thereby improving drug transport. However, their inclusion in veterinary products with a high-absorbed dose may result in adverse dermatological reactions (e.g., toxicological irritations) and concerns about tissue residues. These are important considerations when formulating a veterinary transdermal product when such compounds are added, either intentionally or otherwise, for their penetration enhancement ability.     

The transdermal revolution

Historically, developments in transdermal drug delivery have been incremental, focusing on overcoming problems associated with the barrier properties of the skin, reducing skin irritation rates and improving the aesthetics associated with passive patch systems. More-recent advances have concentrated on the development of non-passive systems to aid delivery of larger drug molecules, such as proteins and nucleotides, as the trend for discovering and designing biopharmaceuticals continues. Fundamentally, improvements in transdermal delivery will remain incremental until there is wider acceptance of this route of administration within the pharmaceutical industry. Only then will the transdermal revolution live up to its true potential.     

Vesicular carriers for dermal drug delivery

The skin can offer several advantages as a route of drug administration although its barrier nature makes it difficult for most drugs to penetrate into and permeate through it. During the past decades there has been a lot of interest in lipid vesicles as a tool to improve drug topical delivery. Vesicular systems such as liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes and elastic, deformable vesicles provide an alternative for improved skin drug delivery. The function of vesicles as topical delivery systems is controversial with variable effects being reported in relation to the type of vesicles and their composition. In fact, vesicles can act as drug carriers controlling active release; they can provide a localized depot in the skin for dermally active compounds and enhance transdermal drug delivery. A wide variety of lipids and surfactants can be used to prepare vesicles, which are commonly composed of phospholipids (liposomes) or non-ionic surfactants (niosomes). Vesicle composition and preparation method influence their physicochemical properties (size, charge, lamellarity, thermodynamic state, deformability) and therefore their efficacy as drug delivery systems. A review of vesicle value in localizing drugs within the skin at the site of action will be provided with emphasis on their potential mechanism of action.     

微针经皮给药技术

微针是介于皮下注射和透皮贴剂之间的一种给药方式,利用在皮肤角质层产生的微小孔道来显著增加药物的经皮吸收。综述微针经皮给药技术的研究进展,介绍制造微针的材料和方法、微针的给药方式及其在经皮给药系统中的应用。     

Potentials of new nanocarriers for dermal and transdermal drug delivery

Nanocarriers (NCs) are colloidal systems having structures below a particle or droplet size of 500 nm. In the previous years, the focus for the application of NCs was primarily placed on the parenteral and oral application. However, NCs applied to the skin are in the center of attention and are expected to be increasingly applied as the skin offers a lot of advantages for the administration of such systems. For the use of NCs to the skin, one has to differentiate between the desired effects: the local effect within the skin (dermal drug delivery) or a systemic effect accompanied by the permeation through the skin (transdermal drug delivery).Both for dermal and transdermal drug delivery, the stratum corneum (SC), the main barrier of the skin, has to be overcome.SC is one of the tightest barriers of the human body. Therefore, it is the primary goal of new NC to overcome this protective and effective barrier. For that purpose, new NCs such as microemulsions, vesicular (liposomes) and nanoparticular NCs are developed and investigated. This article evaluates the potentials of these NCs for dermal and transdermal drug delivery.     

皮肤给药的经皮吸收与测量技术研究进展

经皮给药系统（TDDS）可避免首关效应、胃肠道破坏，为新型皮肤给药系统，可通过控制释放而延长治疗效果，成为药物制剂开发研究的热点之一。但是，药物的理化性质以及皮肤屏障影响药物的经皮吸收。综述了TDDS常用的促渗透技术，包括化学、物理、纳米、天然促渗透技术；介绍了促渗透能力的测定方法，包括体外、离体和体内评估皮肤渗透性的方法。通过对经皮药物递送系统和经皮吸收能力测定方法的归纳与总结，以期为TDDS的合理使用和快速发展提供参考。     

Passive transdermal drug delivery systems

The skin has evolved as a formidable barrier against invasion by external microorganisms and against the prevention of water loss. Notwithstanding this, transdermal drug delivery systems have been designed with the aim of providing continuous controlled delivery of drugs via this barrier to the systemic circulation. There are numerous systems now available that effectively deliver drugs across the skin. These include reservoir devices, matrix diffusion-controlled devices, multiple polymer devices, and multilayer matrix systems. This review article focuses on the design characteristics and composition of the main categories of passive transdermal delivery device available. Mechanisms controlling release of the active drug from these systems as well as patch size and irritation problems will be considered. Recent developments in the field are highlighted including advances in patch design as well as the increasing number of drug molecules now amenable to delivery via this route. From the early complex patch designs, devices have now evolved towards simpler, matrix formulations. One of the newer technologies to emerge is the delivery-optimized thermodynamic (DOT) patch system, which allows greater drug loading to be achieved in a much smaller patch size. With the DOT technology, drug is loaded in an acrylic-based adhesive. The drug/acrylic blend is dispersed through silicone adhesive, creating a semi-solid suspension. This overcomes the problem with conventional drug-in-adhesive matrix patches, in which a large drug load in the adhesive reservoir can compromise the adhesive properties or necessitate a large patch size. Transdermal drug delivery remains an attractive and evolving field offering many benefits over alternative routes of drug delivery. Future developments in the field should address problems relating to irritancy and sensitization, which currently exclude a number of therapeutic entities from delivery via this route. It is likely that further innovations in matrix composition and formulation will further expand the number of candidate drugs available for transdermal delivery.     

Use of transdermal drug formulations in the elderly

Transdermal drug delivery systems are pharmaceutical forms designed to administer a drug through the skin to obtain a systemic effect. They ensure a constant rate of drug administration and a prolonged action. Several different types of transdermal delivery devices are available on the market. They are either matrix or reservoir systems and their main current uses are to treat neurological disorders, pain and coronary artery disease, and as hormone replacement therapy.Transdermal drug administration has a number of advantages compared with the oral route: it avoids gastrointestinal absorption and hepatic first-pass metabolism, minimizes adverse effects arising from peak plasma drug concentrations and improves patient compliance. Compared with the parenteral route, transdermal administration entails no risk of infection. For elderly people, who are often polymedicated, transdermal drug delivery can be a good alternative route of administration.Transdermal absorption depends on passive diffusion through the different layers of the skin. As skin undergoes many structural and functional changes with increasing age, it would be useful to know whether these alterations affect the transdermal diffusion of drugs. Studies have shown that age-related changes in hydration and lipidic structure result in an increased barrier function of the stratum corneum only for relatively hydrophilic compounds. In practice, no significant differences in absorption of drugs from transdermal delivery systems have been demonstrated between young and old individuals. The need for dose adaptation in elderly patients using transdermal drug delivery systems is therefore not related to differences in skin absorption but rather to age-related cardiovascular, cerebral, hepatic and/or renal compromise, and to ensuing geriatric pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes.     

Permeation enhancer strategies in transdermal drug delivery

Abstract

Today, ～74% of drugs are taken orally and are not found to be as effective as desired. To improve such characteristics, transdermal drug delivery was brought to existence. This delivery system is capable of transporting the drug or macromolecules painlessly through skin into the blood circulation at fixed rate. Topical administration of therapeutic agents offers many advantages over conventional oral and invasive techniques of drug delivery. Several important advantages of transdermal drug delivery are prevention from hepatic first pass metabolism, enhancement of therapeutic efficiency and maintenance of steady plasma level of the drug. Human skin surface, as a site of drug application for both local and systemic effects, is the most eligible candidate available. New controlled transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) technologies (electrically-based, structure-based and velocity-based) have been developed and commercialized for the transdermal delivery of troublesome drugs. This review article covers most of the new active transport technologies involved in enhancing the transdermal permeation via effective drug delivery system.     

Spray-on transdermal drug delivery systems

Introduction: Transdermal drug delivery possesses superior advantages over other routes of administration, particularly minimizing first-pass metabolism. Transdermal drug delivery is challenged by the barrier nature of skin. Numerous technologies have been developed to overcome the relatively low skin permeability, including spray-on transdermal systems.

Areas covered: A transdermal spray-on system (TSS) usually consists of a solution containing the drug, a volatile solvent and in many cases a chemical penetration enhancer. TSS promotes drug delivery via the complex interplay between solvent evaporation and drug–solvent drag into skin. The volatile solvent carries the drug into the upper layers of the stratum corneum, and as the volatile solvent evaporates, an increase in the thermodynamic activity of the drug occurs resulting in an increased drug loading in skin.

Expert opinion: TSS is easily applied, delivering flexible drug dosage and associated with lower incidence of skin irritation. TSS provides a fast-drying product where the volatile solvent enables uniform drug distribution with minimal vehicle deposition on skin. TSS ensures precise dose administration that is aesthetically appealing and eliminates concerns of residual drug associated with transdermal patches. Furthermore, it provides a better alternative to traditional transdermal products due to ease of product development and manufacturing.     

Transdermal contraceptive patches

Many contraceptive methods have been developed for fertility regulation, either reversible or irreversible, in males and females. Oral contraceptives have been considered the most popular form of reversible contraception. However, they must be taken consistently, on a daily basis for 21 or 28 days of each menstrual cycle, in order to achieve the maximal outcomes of contraception. Moreover, their contraceptive efficacy has been reportedly affected by their interactions with many drug products taken concurrently for other conditions. To resolve the dilemma of daily compliance and the risk of potential interactions with drugs taken orally, several non-traditional delivery systems have been developed to permit contraceptive agents and their combinations to be administered via a non-oral route, and also at a lesser frequency of administration, so as to enhance treatment compliance, maximize therapeutic outcomes, and minimize adverse effects. One typical example is the successful development of the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin patch for achieving contraception in females via transdermal delivery. With topical application on intact skin, each patch delivers a combination of norelgestromin and ethinylestradiol for a week. With a treatment schedule of 3 weeks with a patch on and 1 week without a patch for each menstrual cycle, the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin patch has achieved a clinical efficacy that is considered bioequivalent to oral contraceptives (with an unintended pregnancy rate of 0.8% per woman-year for the patch versus 0.1% per woman-year for the combined oral contraceptive). Stimulated by the marketing success of the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin transdermal contraceptive patch, and a growing recognition of the therapeutic benefits realized by delivering an orally inactive progestin via a transdermal route, other transdermal drug delivery systems (DDS), such as transdermal gels and a metered-dose transdermal spray system, have also been developed. Further transdermal contraceptive patches have also been developed. One of these is similar to the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin patch, in that it is fabricated from an adhesive polymer matrix diffusion-controlled DDS; however, it has a two times smaller patch size (to minimize localized reactions at the application site). This was made possible by substituting norelgestromin with a more potent progestin called gestodene, that has a higher skin permeation rate. The other transdermal patch that has been developed employs a microreservoir partition-controlled delivery system, to provide dual-controlled delivery of estradiol (a natural estrogen) and levonorgestrel (another potent synthetic progestin) at constant rates (zero-order kinetics). Clinical studies have demonstrated that these two new patch systems may be attractive alternative forms of contraception, since ovulation inhibition has been achieved in all subjects who wear the transdermal patch for 3 weeks, replacing it on a weekly basis. A transdermal gel has been formulated to contain elcometrine, which has a progestational potency that is 100 times that of progesterone but is orally inactive, in an alcoholic solution. Preliminary clinical studies have indicated that suppression of ovulation was achieved in the majority of subjects receiving daily application of the transdermal gel. To address the problems associated with the dosing accuracy of the transdermal gel, due to difficulty controlling the area and size of the application site, the feasibility of delivering the transdermal gel from a metered-dose transdermal spray system is currently under evaluation by the Population Council.     

Transdermal delivery of inflammatory factors regulated drugs for rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease, with the features of recurrent chronic inflammation of synovial tissue, destruction of cartilage, and bone erosion, which further affects joints tissue, organs, and systems, and eventually leads to irreversible joint deformities and body dysfunction. Therapeutic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis mainly reduce inflammation through regulating inflammatory factors. Transdermal administration is gradually being applied to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, which can allow the drug to overcome the skin stratum corneum barrier, reduce gastrointestinal side effects, and avoid the first-pass effect, thus improving bioavailability and relieving inflammation. This paper reviewed the latest research progress of transdermal drug delivery in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and discussed in detail the dosage forms such as gel (microemulsion gel, nanoemulsion gel, nanomicelle gel, sanaplastic nano-vesiclegel, ethosomal gel, transfersomal gel, nanoparticles gel), patch, drug microneedles, nanostructured lipid carrier, transfersomes, lyotropic liquid crystal, and drug loaded electrospinning nanofibers, which provide inspiration for the rich dosage forms of transdermal drug delivery systems for rheumatoid arthritis.     

Skin tolerability of transdermal patches

Introduction: Transdermal patch systems are an effective method of administering active ingredients through the skin, with considerable advantages over other drug delivery routes, for example, maintenance of constant plasma drug levels and avoidance of first-pass metabolism. However, repeated epicutaneous application may be associated with local skin reactions.

Areas covered: This review addresses current issues regarding the effective/safe use of transdermal patch systems, and provides a critical analysis of the addition of ‘skin-caring’ ingredients to patch systems. Effective use of transdermal systems includes choosing an appropriate body area for application, maintaining regular skin care regimens before application and not replacing a patch in the same area (rotation) within 7 days. Another strategy, developed in an attempt to improve the tolerability of transdermal systems, is the addition of assumed ‘skin-caring’ ingredients (e.g., Aloe Vera) to patch systems. However, at present there is neither proof nor clinical evidence of any benefit. On the contrary, plant-derived ingredients might be associated with allergenic potential.

Expert opinion: Transdermal systems are generally well tolerated; physicians must adequately inform patients of the most effective ways to use these formulations for maximum therapeutic benefit, while minimising local adverse events. Skin-caring agents, including Aloe Vera, cannot be recommended until well-controlled clinical trials with standardised extracts are available.     

静电纺丝载药微纳米纤维膜在经皮给药系统中的应用

静电纺丝技术构建的载药微纳米纤维膜由于具有高比表面积和高孔隙率等特点,在经皮给药系统中的应用成为研究的热点.不同药理活性的药物经不同纺丝(单轴、同轴、三轴等)工艺被负载于适宜的载体材料,这些载药体系适用于经皮给药.较多研究将载药微纳米纤维膜应用于皮肤,发挥局部和全身治疗作用,但研究多集中于药物体外经皮渗透性能的改善,体...     

Novel chemical permeation enhancers for transdermal drug delivery

Transdermal drug delivery has been accepted as a potential non-invasive route of drug administration, with advantages of prolonged therapeutic action, decreased side effect, easy use and better patient compliance. However, development of transdermal products is primarily hindered by the low permeability of the skin. To overcome this barrier effect, numerous new chemicals have been synthesized as potential permeation enhancers for transdermal drug delivery. In this review, we presented an overview of the investigations in this field, and further implications on selection or design of suitable permeation enhancers for transdermal drug delivery were also discussed.     

微乳作为皮肤局部用药载体的研究进展

微乳是目前药剂学研究的热点,通过皮肤给药以达到局部或全身治疗目的的1种给药载体。综述近年来国内外对微乳作为皮肤局部用药载体的作用机制、影响因素、评价方法以及临床应用等方面的研究进展。     

纳米晶体技术在肺吸入给药中的研究进展

肺吸入给药是可实现肺靶向或全身给药的理想给药途径。然而肺部结构特征的复杂性给开发肺吸入制剂研发带来了困难,纳米晶体技术为解决难溶性药物肺部给药提供了一种有效的方法,其粒径小,可克服肺部中存在的生理屏障,提高药物的生物利用度,近年来引起了药物制剂学家的广泛关注。本文围绕肺部给药的屏障及纳米晶体在肺吸入给药的应用展开综述,期望为促进难溶性药物肺部给药提供借鉴。     

Touch-actuated microneedle array patch for closed-loop transdermal drug delivery

To date, only approximately 20 drugs synthesized with small molecules have been approved by the FDA for use in traditional transdermal patches (TTP) owing to the extremely low permeation rate of the skin barrier for macromolecular drugs. A novel touch-actuated microneedle array patch (TMAP) was developed for transdermal delivery of liquid macromolecular drugs. TMAP is a combination of a typical TTP and a solid microneedle array (MA). High doses of liquid drug formulations, especially heat-sensitive compounds can be easily filled and stored in the drug reservoir of TMAPs. TMAP can easily penetrate the skin and automatically retract from it to create microchannels through the stratum corneum (SC) layer using touch-actuated ‘press and release’ actions for passive permeation of liquid drugs. Comparison of subcutaneous injection, TTP, solid MA, and dissolvable MA, indicated that insulin-loaded TMAP exhibited the best hypoglycemic effect on type 1 diabetic rats. A ‘closed-loop’ permeation control was also provided for on-demand insulin delivery based on feedback of blood glucose levels (BGLs). Twenty IU-insulin-loaded TMAP maintained the type 1 diabetic rats in a normoglycemic state for approximately 11.63?h, the longest therapeutic duration among all previously reported results on microneedle-based transdermal patches. TMAP possesses excellent transdermal drug delivery capabilities.     

Vesicular systems for delivering conventional small organic molecules and larger macromolecules to and through human skin

The history of using vesicular systems for drug delivery to and through skin started nearly three decades ago with a study utilising phospholipid liposomes to improve skin deposition and reduce systemic effects of triamcinolone acetonide. Subsequently, many researchers evaluated liposomes with respect to skin delivery, with the majority of them recording localised effects and relatively few studies showing transdermal delivery effects. Shortly after this, transfersomes were developed with claims about their ability to deliver their payload into and through the skin with efficiencies similar to subcutaneous administration. Since these vesicles are ultradeformable, they were thought to penetrate intact skin deep enough to reach the systemic circulation. Their mechanisms of action remain controversial, with diverse processes being reported. Parallel to this development, other classes of vesicles were produced, with ethanol being included into the vesicles to provide flexibility (as in ethosomes); vesicles were constructed from surfactants and cholesterol (as in niosomes). The ultradeformable vesicles showed variable efficiency in delivering low-molecular-weight and macromolecular drugs. This article will critically evaluate vesicular systems for dermal and transdermal delivery of drugs, considering both their efficacy and their potential mechanisms of action.     

弹性脂质囊泡在经皮给药系统的研究进展

目的 对近年来弹性脂质囊泡在经皮给药系统的研究与应用进行文献整理和归纳,为以后该领域的研究提供借鉴。方法 查阅近5年弹性脂质囊泡在经皮给药系统的相关文献,总结弹性脂质囊泡的分类、制备方法、促透机制、应用的研究进展,提出其今后研究的重点方向。结果 弹性脂质囊泡具有较好的变形性、皮肤渗透性,可以通过角质层,更利于药物到达毛细血管被吸收,提高生物利用度,更有利于皮肤用药。结论 弹性脂质囊泡经皮给药系统是一种安全、有效的给药途径,其顺应性更好,在经皮给药方面有很好的应用前景。