title: Immediate topical drug delivery by natural submicron injectors.
abstract: Transdermal delivery is an attractive but challenging solution for delivery of drugs. The sea anemone possesses a sophisticated injection system, which utilizes built-in high osmotic pressures. The system is folded within microcapsules and upon activation it injects a long, needle-like tubule of submicron diameter that penetrates the target in a fraction of a second. Here we show that this natural injection system can be adapted for active topical drug delivery once it is isolated from the cells, formulated into a topical gel, and uploaded with the desired drug. The formulated injectors retained their physical characteristics and were capable of penetrating the skin, achieving immediate delivery of a hydrophilic compound. We demonstrate quantitative rapid delivery of lidocaine hydrochloride as a function of microcapsular and drug concentrations. The adaptation of natural injectors for drug delivery combines the benefits of short topical application with rapid delivery of physical devices, thereby presenting a promising alternative for transdermal drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: NanoCyte (Israel) Ltd., Caesarea 38900, Israel.
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayalon
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shichor
authors.forename: Yossi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lotan
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D012615:Sea Anemones; D012869:Skin Absorption
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D005782:Gels; D008012:Lidocaine