Texturing formulations for uranium skin decontamination.
BACKGROUND
Since no specific treatment exists in case of cutaneous contamination by radionuclides such as uranium, a nanoemulsion comprising calixarene molecules, known for their good chelation properties, was previously designed. However, this fluid topical form may be not suitable for optimal application on the skin or wounds.


OBJECTIVE
To develop a texturing pharmaceutical form for the treatment of wounded skins contaminated by uranium.


METHODS
The formulations consisted in oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions, loaded with calixarene molecules. The external phase of the initial liquid nanoemulsion was modified with a combination of thermosensitive gelifying polymers: Poloxamer and HydroxyPropylMethylcellulose (HPMC) or methylcellulose (MC). These new formulations were characterized then tested by ex vivo experiments on Franz cells to prevent uranyl ions diffusion through excoriated pig ear skin explants.


RESULTS
Despite strong changes in rheological properties, the physico-chemical characteristics of the new nanoemulsions, such as the size and the zeta potential as well as macroscopic aspect were preserved. In addition, on wounded skin, diffusion of uranyl ions, measured by ICP-MS, was limited to less than 5% for both HPMC and MC nanoemulsions.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrated that a hybrid formulation of nanoemulsion in hydrogel is efficient to treat uranium skin contamination.
IRSN, PRP-HOM/SDI, Fontenay-aux-Roses , France and.
Corinne
C
Belhomme-Henry
Guillaume
G
Phan
Nicolas
N
Huang
Céline
C
Bouvier
François
F
Rebière
Michelle
M
Agarande
Elias
E
Fattal
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D047250:Calixarenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D004058:Diffusion; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007477:Ions / Q000378:metabolism; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D014501:Uranium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D004655:Emulsions; D007477:Ions; D011108:Polymers; D047250:Calixarenes; D014501:Uranium