title: Preliminary study on carprofen concentration measurements after transcutaneous treatment with Vetdrop® in a microfracture joint defect model in sheep.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present preliminary study describes concentration time courses of the NSAID carprofen in the plasma and synovial fluid in a microfrature sheep model after transcutaneous treatments with a novel application device (Vetdrop®). To treat circumscribed inflammatory processes a transcutaneous application device could potentially be beneficial. After transcutaneous application normally lower systemic concentrations are measured which may reduce the incidence of side effects, whereas efficacy is still maintained. In this study carprofen was used based on its capacity to provide analgesia after orthopaedic procedures in sheep and it is considered that it may have a positive influence on the healing of cartilage in low concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all transcutaneously treated animals, carprofen plasma concentrations exceeded those of synovial fluid, although plasma levels remained significantly reduced (300-fold) as compared to carprofen administered intravenously. Furthermore, in contrast to the intravenously treated animals, a modest accumulation of carprofen in plasma and synovial fluid was observed in the transcutaneously treated animals over the 6-week treatment period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The transcutaneously administered carprofen using the Vetdrop® device penetrated the skin and both, plasma- and synovial concentrations could be measured repeatedly over time. This novel device may be considered a valuable transcutaneous drug delivery system.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Unit (MSRU), Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. michele.sidler@gmail.com.|Veterinary Anaesthesia Services International, Winterthur, Switzerland. michele.sidler@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidler
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Unit (MSRU), Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. nathalie.fouche@web.de.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fouché
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Unit (MSRU), Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Ingmar.Meth@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Ingmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meth
authors.affiliation: Meddrop Technology AG, Thundorf, Switzerland. hahn@meddrop.org.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Hahn
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Unit (MSRU), Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. bvonrechenberg@vetclinics.uzh.ch.|Competence Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (CABMM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. bvonrechenberg@vetclinics.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: von Rechenberg
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Unit (MSRU), Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. peter.kronen@vas-int.com.|Veterinary Anaesthesia Services International, Winterthur, Switzerland. peter.kronen@vas-int.com.|Competence Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (CABMM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. peter.kronen@vas-int.com.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kronen
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012756:Sheep; D013264:Stifle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002227:Carbazoles; C007005:carprofen