title: Transcutol containing vesicles for topical delivery of minoxidil.
abstract: The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of Transcutol (Trc) to produce elastic vesicles with soy lecithin (SL) and study the influence of the obtained vesicles on in vitro (trans)dermal delivery of minoxidil. To this purpose, so-called penetration enhancer-containing vesicles (PEVs) were prepared using Trc aqueous solutions (5-10-20-30% v/v) as hydrophilic phase. SL liposomes, without Trc, were used as control. Prepared formulations were characterized in terms of size distribution, morphology, zeta potential, deformability, and rheological behavior. The influence of the obtained PEVs on (trans)dermal delivery of minoxidil was studied by in vitro diffusion experiments through pig skin. Results showed that all prepared PEVs were able to give good entrapment efficiency (E%≈67) similar to that of conventional liposomes. Trc-containing PEVs showed to be more deformable than liposomes only when minoxidil was loaded in 5 and 10% Trc-containing vesicles. Rheological studies showed that PEVs have higher fluidity than conventional liposomes. All PEVs showed a higher stability than liposomes as shown by studying zeta potential and size distribution during three months. Results of in vitro diffusion experiments showed that Trc-containing PEVs are able to deliver minoxidil to deep skin layers without any transdermal permeation.
authors.affiliation: Department Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manconi
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sinico
authors.forename: Amparo Ofelia
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fadda
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D004058:Diffusion; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004355:Drug Stability; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry; D054709:Lecithins / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010316:Particle Size; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D005079:Excipients; D054709:Lecithins; D008081:Liposomes; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D008914:Minoxidil; C010111:carbitol