Preparation and evaluation of colloidal systems of an anticancer drug for transdermal delivery

Abstract

The transdermal pathway appears to be one of the most promising drug delivery routes due to the merits it carries over other routes as it allows for the controlled and constant delivery of molecules especially in chronic diseases, avoiding first- pass effect and non-invasive application.

Targeting solid tumors via the transdermal route has risen as an encouraging emerging approach. Though, the skin poses exceptional barrier properties, which challenge the delivery of all the therapeutic agents, generally and the lipophilic molecules, specifically, due to the high probability of their confinement and entrapment in the skin lipid layers. In transdermal delivery, the goal of dosage design is to maximize the flux through the skin into systemic circulation.

Accordingly, various strategies have been implemented to augment the transdermal delivery of bioactives. Mainly, they include in one hand methods that act on the molecule or the barrier itself such as: iontophoresis, electroporation, sonophoresis and on the other hand, there are other methods that depend on formulation adjustment such as: the use of colloidal carriers like microemulsions, lipid-based nanoparticles and vesicular systems

Microemulsions are nano-colloidal systems systems composed of oily and aqueous phases, together with surfactants and co-surfactants. Hydrophobic drugs that can be integrated (solubilized) in the oily phase and water phase hydrates the skin leading to increased permeability. The surfactants and co-surfactants act as penetration enhancers and can impact the skin barrier functions in many a