title: Novel nanostructured supramolecular hydrogels for the topical delivery of anionic drugs.
abstract: A bis-imidazolium-based amphiphilic molecule was used to form novel supramolecular gels in ethanol-water mixtures. The proportion of solvents, the concentration of gellant and the temperature are factors that strongly influence the gelling process. The physical gels that are formed comprise entangled fibers of around 100nm in diameter, able to incorporate anionic drugs, whose morphology varies depending on the drug they incorporate. These hydrogels are soft and therefore optimum for skin application. They show good stability when compared to previously reported gels. Suitable drug release and skin permeation profiles were obtained, and, moreover, they seem to promote the retention of the drug inside the skin. Finally, effective in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was observed, especially with the indomethacin-incorporated gel, which indicates that these supramolecular hydrogels are a good option for the delivery of poor water soluble drugs for the treatment of acute inflammation or other skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Farmacologia i Química Terapèutica, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Limón
authors.affiliation: Departament de Farmacologia i Química Terapèutica, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ezhil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amirthalingam
authors.affiliation: Departament de Farmacologia i Química Terapèutica, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Departament de Farmàcia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXI, s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lyda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Halbaut
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Berenice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garduño-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus Universitari, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Amabilino
authors.affiliation: Departament de Farmacologia i Química Terapèutica, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluïsa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérez-García
authors.affiliation: Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia IN2UB, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Farmàcia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXI, s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: anacalpena@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Calpena
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects; D065546:Drug Liberation; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D012869:Skin Absorption; D012882:Skin Tests; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D020100:Hydrogels; D007093:Imidazoles; D007052:Ibuprofen; D007213:Indomethacin
keywords: Controlled drug release; Drug delivery; Ethanol (PubChem CID: 702); Hydrogel; Ibuprofen sodium (PubChem CID: 5338317); In vivo test; Indomethacin (PubChem CID: 3715); Inflammation; Phosphate buffered saline (PubChem CID: 24978514); Skin permeation; Supramolecular gels; Water (PubChem CID: 962)