title: Ex vivo decrease in uranium diffusion through intact and excoriated pig ear skin by a calixarene nanoemulsion.
abstract: Cutaneous contamination by radionuclides is a major concern in the nuclear industry. In case of skin exposure to uranium, no efficient emergency treatment is available to remove the actinide from the skin. For this purpose, we developed a nanoemulsion containing calixarene molecules displaying good chelating properties towards uranium. In this paper, we describe the ability of this formulation to trap uranium and limit its transfer from the cutaneous contaminated site into the blood. Uranium percutaneous diffusion kinetics was assessed with Franz cells over 24 h through intact and excoriated pig ear skin biopsies, after or without application of the nanoemulsion. Uranium distribution in the skin layers was analysed by SIMS microscopy. The results showed that prompt application of the calixarene nanoemulsion allows a 94% and 98% reduction of the amount of uranium diffused respectively through intact and excoriated skin. The formulation is still efficient in case of delayed application up to 30 minutes since the 24 h-uranium transfer through excoriated skin is reduced by 71%. Besides, no accumulation of uranium or uranium-calixarene chelate was observed in the different skin layers. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the efficiency of the calixarene nanoemulsion, which can be regarded as a promising treatment for uranium cutaneous contamination.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Pharmacie, Châtenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spagnul
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouvier-Capely
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: Géraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landon
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tessier
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suhard
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rebière
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agarande
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fattal
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D047250:Calixarenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D004058:Diffusion; D004431:Ear, External / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods; D004655:Emulsions / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013552:Swine; D014501:Uranium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D014502:Uranyl Nitrate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D004655:Emulsions; D014502:Uranyl Nitrate; D047250:Calixarenes; D014501:Uranium