In vitro and In vivo Evaluation of Novel Gel Formulations of Testosterone for Transdermal Delivery

HPMC-based novel gel formulations for the transdermal delivery of testosterone (TS) were developed, and the effect of various skin permeation enhancers was studied in vitro and in vivo. In vitro hairless mouse skin permeation of TS from the gel was investigated using Keshary-Chien diffusion cells for 8 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. In vivo plasma concentration profiles of TS after applying the gel on the abdominal skin of rat were determined using a commercial radioimmunoassay kit. Hairless mouse skin permeation of TS increased with the addition of permeation enhancers both in vitro and in vivo. Combination of diethanolamine (2%) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP, 6%) was the most effective among tested. Plasma concentration of TS significantly increased for at least 24 hours with the addition of diethanolamine and NMP. These results suggest the feasibility of the development of a HPMC-based gel formulation for the transdermal delivery of TS.