Ethosomes and organogels for cutaneous administration of crocin.
The present study describes the production and characterization of phosphatidylcholine based ethosomes and organogels, as percutaneous delivery systems for crocin. Crocin presence did not influence ethosome morphology, while the drug slightly increased ethosome mean diameter. Importantly, the poor chemical stability of crocin has been found to be long controlled by organogel. To investigate the performance of phosphatidylcholine lipid formulations as crocin delivery system, in vivo studies, based on tape stripping and skin reflectance spectrophotometry, were performed. Tape stripping results suggested a rapid initial penetration of crocin exerted by the organogel, probably due to a strong interaction between the peculiar supramolecular aggregation structure of phospholipids in the vehicle and the lipids present in the stratum corneum and a higher maintenance of crocin concentration in the case of ethosomes, possibly because of the formation of a crocin depot in the stratum corneum. Skin reflectance spectrophotometry data indicated that both vehicles promoted the penetration of crocin through the skin, with a more rapid anti-inflammatory effect exploited by ethosomes, attributed to an ethanol pronounced penetration enhancer effect and to the carrier system as a whole.
Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, I-44121, Ferrara, Italy. ese@unife.it.
Elisabetta
E
Esposito
Macromolecular Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
Markus
M
Drechsler
Institut Galien Paris-Sud (CNRS UMR 8612), Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France.
Nicolas
N
Huang
Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, I-44121, Ferrara, Italy.
Gabriella
G
Pavoni
Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, I-44121, Ferrara, Italy. crt@unife.it.
Rita
R
Cortesi
Department of Drug Science, University of Catania, I-95125, Catania, Italy.
Debora
D
Santonocito
Department of Drug Science, University of Catania, I-95125, Catania, Italy.
Carmelo
C
Puglia
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005782:Gels; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D002338:Carotenoids; C029036:crocin
Chemical stability; Nanotechnology; Permeation enhancers; Phospholipid; Viscosity