The design of polymer-based nanocarriers for effective transdermal delivery.
This study reports a facile and practical means to non-invasively deliver biologically active ingredients through the skin using polymer-based nanocarriers. For this, polymer nanocapsules were fabricated with different surface charges as well as glass transition temperatures and we observed their ability to deliver the encapsulated active ingredient, coenzyme Q10, through the skin layer. Direct imaging of a probe molecule, Nile Red, and a matrix polymer labeled with fluorescence moiety, Lucifer Yellow, allowed us to demonstrate that the probe molecule readily permeates into the deep skin, while the matrix polymer stays in the stratum corneum layer due to electrostatic interactions. Quantitative characterization of the penetrating amount of coenzyme Q10 using the Frantz cell method proved that, to achieve improved delivery efficiency, the nanocapsule should have a low glass transition temperature as well as positive surface charges.
Kim
Junoh
J
School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Shim
Jongwon
J
Kim
Yong-Jin
YJ
Char
Kookheon
K
Suh
Kyung-Do
KD
Kim
Jin-Woong
JW
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008422:Materials Testing; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012869:Skin Absorption; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011108:Polymers; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10