An evaluation of tocotrienol ethosomes for transdermal delivery using Strat-M® membrane and excised human skin. (7th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nair, Rajesh Sreedharan; Billa, Nashiru; Leong, Chee-Onn; Morris, Andrew P.
• Is Part Of: Pharmaceutical development and technology. Volume 26:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 243
• Page End: 251
• Publication Date: 2021-02-07
• Subjects: Transdermal -- TRF -- ethosomes -- human skin -- permeation -- cell-viability; Drug delivery systems -- Periodicals; Pharmaceutical technology -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Administration -- Research -- Periodicals; Drug Delivery Systems -- Periodicals; Pharmaceutical Preparations -- Periodicals; Technology, Pharmaceutical -- Periodicals; 615
• DOI: 10.1080/10837450.2020.1860087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1083-7450

Abstract

Abstract: Tocotrienol (TRF) ethosomes were developed and evaluated in vitro for potential transdermal delivery against melanoma. The optimised TRF ethosomal size ranged between 64.9 ± 2.2 nm to 79.6 ± 3.9 nm and zeta potential (ZP) between −53.3 mV to −62.0 ± 2.6 mV. Characterisation of the ethosomes by ATR-FTIR indicated the successful formation of TRF-ethosomes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images demonstrated the spherical shape of ethosomes, and the entrapment efficiencies of all the formulations were above 66%. In vitro permeation studies using full-thickness human skin showed that the permeation of gamma-T3 from the TRF ethosomal formulations was significantly higher ( p < 0.05) than from the control. The cumulative amount of gamma-T3 permeated from TRF ethosome after 48 hours was 1.03 ± 0.24 µg cm −2 with a flux of 0.03 ± 0.01 µg cm −2 h −1 . Furthermore, the flux of gamma-T3 across the Strat-M ® and the epidermal membrane was significantly higher than that across full-thickness human skin ( p < 0.05). In vitro cytotoxicity studies on HaCat cells showed significantly higher cell viability than the pure drug solution ( p < 0.05). The enhanced skin permeation and high cell viability associated with this formulation suggest a promising carrier for transdermal delivery. Graphical Abstract: