title: Self-Assembled Cubic Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles for Transdermal Delivery of Paeonol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to optimize the preparation method for self-assembled glyceryl monoolein-based cubosomes containing paeonol and to characterize the properties of this transdermal delivery system to improve the drug penetration ability in the skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles loaded with paeonol were prepared by fragmentation of glyceryl monoolein (GMO)/poloxamer 407 bulk cubic gel by high-pressure homogenization. We evaluated the Zeta potential of these promising skin-targeting drug-delivery systems using the Malvern Zeta sizer examination, and various microscopies and differential scanning calorimetry were also used for property investigation. Stimulating studies were evaluated based on the skin irritation reaction score standard and the skin stimulus intensity evaluation standard for paeonol cubosomes when compared with commercial paeonol ointment. In vitro tests were performed on excised rat skins in an improved Franz diffusion apparatus. The amount of paeonol over time in the in vitro penetration and retention experiments both was determined quantitatively by HPLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stimulating studies were compared with the commercial ointment which indicated that the paeonol cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles could reduce the irritation in the skin stimulating test. Thus, based on the attractive characteristics of the cubic crystal system of paeonol, we will further exploit the cosmetic features in the future studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The transdermal delivery system of paeonol with low-irritation based on the self-assembled cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles prepared in this study might be a promising system of good tropical preparation for skin application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Jian-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Jin-Xiu
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Wen-Jing
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Hong-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Qing-Qing
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Xiao-Xiang
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Xiu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, TaiShan Medical University, Taian, Shandong, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Ji-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000098:Acetophenones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004058:Diffusion; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D005989:Glycerides / Q000737:chemistry; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005989:Glycerides; D020442:Poloxamer; C013638:paeonol; C005953:monoolein