Formulations of deoxycholic for therapy: a patent review (2011 - 2014).
BACKGROUND
Deoxycholic acid (DOCA) is involved in many physiological functions and has been used in various fields of pharmaceutical formulations as a natural active solubilizing and permeation-enhancing agent. Although DOCA has been suggested to be a promoter of colon cancer, it has also been used extensively as a starting material to obtain new derivatives for potential therapeutic applications.


METHODS
In this review, we focus on patents and research reports from 2011 to 2014 related to pharmaceutical formulations and therapeutic applications using DOCA and its derivatives as surfactants or absorption enhancers, drug delivery carriers, and anti-cancer agents.


CONCLUSIONS
In recent few years, DOCA and its derivatives have been used mostly as pharmaceutical excipients for solubilizing lipophilic compounds to improve their bioavailability. Other studies have expanded its applications to include enhanced drug permeability and have designed more effective drug carriers by conjugation with polymeric materials. Recently, a synthetic DOCA injection, ATX-101, has shown long-term efficacy in the non-surgical treatment of unwanted submental fat and acceptable tolerability in humans. Thus, it may be used for reducing specific localized fat accumulations. Additionally, DOCA has been a starting material for anti-cancer drugs, and some derivatives showed strong inhibitory activities against several carcinoma cells.
a College of Pharmacy , Chosun University , Dong-gu , Gwangju 501-759 , Republic of Korea.
Seung Rim
SR
Hwang
b College of Pharmacy and Natural Medicine Research Institute , Mokpo National University , Muan-gun , Jeonnam 534-729 , Republic of Korea.
In Jae
IJ
Kim
b College of Pharmacy and Natural Medicine Research Institute , Mokpo National University , Muan-gun , Jeonnam 534-729 , Republic of Korea.
Jin Woo
JW
Park
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010330:Patents as Topic; D010539:Permeability; D012995:Solubility
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005079:Excipients; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid
absorption enhancer; anti-cancer; bile acid; deoxycholic acid; lipolysis; solubilizer