title: In vitro retinoid binding and release from a collagen sponge material in a simulated intravaginal environment.
abstract: Four in vitro preparations were constructed to simulate the intravaginal release of two retinoids, all-trans-retinoic acid (t-RA) and 13-cis-retinoic acid (c-RA), from a 0.7% collagen sponge diaphragm insert. Four t-RA concentrations, 0.019, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15% in methanol were added to the sponge. The release into an artificial vaginal fluid was monitored serially over 72 h by serial analysis for t-RA and c-RA using high-pressure liquid chromatography. In each preparation, retinoid release was immediate and noncontinuous. At 37 degrees C, the retinoids were stable for at least 48 h. Trans-retinoic acid was the predominant retinoid recovered. Only trace amounts of the cis-isomer were released. Peak t-RA levels were 20 microM after 0.01%, 60-80 microM after 0.05%, 100-200 microM after 0.1%, and 320 microM after 0.15%. When the vaginal fluid bath was changed after 5 h, no further significant retinoid release occurred. There was significant loss of up to 70% of the applied t-RA into the collagen sponge. The retinoid binding was concentration dependent (higher binding with higher concentrations) and was maximal only after 24 h of co-incubation. The discontinuous release of t-RA and the high degree of binding to collagen would seem to preclude use of the diaphragm insert as a vaginal drug delivery system, at least for retinoids.
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D014212:Tretinoin; D003094:Collagen; D015474:Isotretinoin