title: Study of the biological function and penetration pathways of the mouse epidermal growth factor ethosomal delivery system.
abstract: Biological agents are becoming increasingly popular for therapeutic applications in epidermal diseases. Ethosomes facilitate the transdermal/topical delivery of biological macromolecules. The mouse epidermal growth factor (mEGF) was selected as the model biological agent. The aim of this experiment was to determine the penetration pathways and biological functions of the mEGF ethosomal delivery system after its topical application. The mEGF ethosomal delivery system was topically applied on the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice at different time points. Freshly excised skin samples were obtained by skin biopsies and shock-frozen, and immunofluorescence was performed. The results showed that penetration of mEGF ethosomes was mainly through the pilosebaceous unit and partly through the intercellular domain. Biological agents encapsulated in the ethosomal delivery system could reach each site of the pilosebaceous unit. We also found that mEGF ethosomes had caused successful transition of the hair follicles from the telogen to the anagen phase of the hair cycle.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jing
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Lang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Bai-Yu
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Qiu-He
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010539:Permeability; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor