title: Doxorubicin skin penetration from monoolein-containing propylene glycol formulations.
abstract: Topical chemotherapy with the antineoplastic doxorubicin (DXR) could be an alternative to treat skin cancer, however its poor skin penetration often limits the efficacy of topical formulations. The aim of this work was to study the effect of monoolein (MO), a penetration enhancer, on the in vitro skin permeation and retention of DXR. DXR was incorporated in a propylene glycol preparation containing 0-20% of MO. DXR release rate and topical delivery were evaluated in vitro using acetate cellulose membrane and porcine skin, respectively, mounted in a Franz diffusion cell. At 5%, MO did not significantly change DXR release rate, but MO concentrations larger than 10% decreased almost twice its release. In vitro skin penetration studies showed that the presence of MO in the propylene glycol formulations markedly increased DXR presence in the stratum corneum (SC). At 5%, MO significantly increased the amount of DXR in the SC already in the first hours, attained a maximum in 6h. Comparing propylene glycol formulations containing more than 10% MO with that containing 5%, the former took the double of the time (12h) to reach the same amount of DXR in the skin, result that is in agreement with in vitro release studies. Interesting, despite the fact that MO significantly increased the amount of DXR in the SC, drug transdermal delivery did not change. These findings suggest a cutaneous delivery of DXR that is an important condition for topical treatment of skin tumors. Further in vivo experiments can show DXR delivery to deeper skin layers.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Haluka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herai
authors.forename: Taís
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gratieri
authors.forename: José Antônio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thomazine
authors.forename: Maria Vitória Lopes Badra
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: Renata Fonseca Vianna
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005989:Glycerides; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D005989:Glycerides; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D004317:Doxorubicin; C005953:monoolein