• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.186-189
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• 2002

Many of the adverse effects of solar UV exposure appear to be directly attributable to damage to epidermal DNA. In particular, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) may initiate mutagenic changes as well as induce signal transduction responses that lead to a loss of skin immune surveillance and micro-destruction of skin structure. Our approach is to reverse the DNA damage using prokaryotic DNA repair enzymes delivered into skin using specially engineered liposomes. T4 endonuclease V encapsulated in liposomes (T4N5 liposome lotion) enhanced DNA repair by shifting repair of CPD from the nucleotide excision to the base excision repair pathway. Following topical application to humans, increased repair limited UV-induction of cytokines, many of which are immunosuppressive. In a recent clinical study, topical treatment of UV-irradiated human skin with T4N5 liposome lotion reduced the suppression of the nickel sulfate contact hypersensitivity response. Similarly, the photoreactivating enzyme enhances repair by directly reversing CPDs after absorbing activating light. Here also treatment of UV-irradiated human skin with photoreactivating enzyme in liposomes and photoreactivating light restored the response to the contact allergen nickel sulfate. These findings confirm in humans the observation in mice that UV induced suppression of contact hypersensitivity is caused in part by CPDs. We have tested the ability of T4N5 liposome lotion to prevent UV-induced skin cancer in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), who have an elevated incidence of skin cancer resulting from a genetic defect in DNA repair. Daily use of the lotion for one year in a group of 20 XP patients reduced the average number of actinic keratoses by 68% and basal cell cancers by 30% compared to 9 patients in the placebo control group. Delivery of DNA repair enzymes to skin is a promising new approach to photoprotection.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Fractional microneedle radiofrequency systems are popular options to increase elasticity in aging skin. Laser-assisted drug delivery is a promising method for the epidermal injection of topically applied drugs and cosmetic ingredients. This study assesses the safety and efficacy of topical delivery of L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and ferulic acid after fractional microneedle radiofrequency treatment for reducing photodamage. Materials and Methods In this prospective, single-center, split-face, controlled pilot study, six women (mean age, 48.0 years; range, 35-57 years; Fitzpatrick skin types III and IV) exhibiting mild to moderate photodamage, underwent a single session of fractional microneedle radiofrequency treatment. The patients were instructed to apply the antioxidant formulation to only one side of the face. Patients were evaluated 3 days, 7 days, and 4 weeks thereafter, using three-dimensional imaging and ultrasound. Ex vivo, the full-thickness human skin was used for molecular and histological evaluation. Statistical analysis was achieved by applying t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and one-way analyses of variance. Results Compared to the untreated side, the antioxidant-treated side exhibited a significant increase in dermal thickness (10.32% vs. 17.54%, p < 0.05), but not in skin elasticity (4.76% vs. 4.69%, p > 0.05). The difference in erythema between the sides was statistically not significant (p > 0.05). In the ex vivo model, expression of FGF2 in the skin was significantly increased after application of the antioxidant formulation, as compared to results obtained subsequent to fractional microneedle radiofrequency treatment only (p < 0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates that for the treatment of photodamaged skin, laser-assisted delivery of the antioxidant formulation is a safe and effective adjuvant modality following fractional microneedle radiofrequency.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.305-311
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• 2010

The present study was aimed at preparing microemulsion-based hydrogel (MBH) for the skin delivery of itraconazole. Microemulsion prepared with Transcutol as a surfactant, benzyl alcohol as an oil and the mixture of ethanol and phasphatidyl choline (3:2) as a cosurfactant were characterized by solubility, phase diagram, particle size. MBHs were prepared using 0.7 % of xanthan gum (F1-1) or carbopol 940 (F1-2) as gelling agents and characterized by viscosity studies. The in vitro permeation data obtained by using the Franz diffusion cells and hairless mouse skin showed that the optimized microemulsion (F1) consisting of itraconazole (1% w/w), benzyl alcohol (10% w/w), Transcutol (10% w/w) and the mixture of ethanol and phospahtidylcholine (3:2) (10% w/w) and water (49% w/w) showed significant difference in the flux (${\sim}1{\mu}g/cm^2/h$) with their corresponding MBHs (0.25-0.64 ${\mu}g/cm^2/h$). However, the in vitro skin drug content showed no significant difference between F1 and F1-1, while F1-2 showed significantly low skin drug content. The effect of the amount of drug loading (0.02, 1 and 1.5% w/w) on the optimized MBH (F1-2) showed that the permeation and skin drug content increased with higher drug loading (1.5%). The in vivo study of the optimized MBH (F1-2 with1.5% w/w drug loading) showed that this formulation could be used as a potential topical formulation for itraconazole.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.2290-2294
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• 2014

For the present study, rhEGF was encapsulated into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). The SLNs were prepared by the $W_1/O/W_2$ double emulsification method combined with the high pressure homogenization method and the physical properties such as particle size, zeta-potential and encapsulation efficiency were measured. The overall particle morphology of SLNs was investigated using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The percutaneous skin permeation and accumulation property of rhEGF was evaluated using Franz diffusion cell system along with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The mean particle size of rhEGF-loaded SLNs was $104.00{\pm}3.99nm$ and the zeta-potential value was in the range of -$36.99{\pm}0.54mV$, providing a good colloidal stability. The TEM image revealed a spherical shape of SLNs about 100 nm and the encapsulation efficiency was $18.47{\pm}0.22%$. The skin accumulation of rhEGF was enhanced by SLNs. CLSM image analysis provided that the rhEGF rat skin accumulation is facilitated by an entry of SLNs through the pores of skin.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.956-960
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• 2011

The objective of this investigation was to develop nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) of tacrolimus by the hot homogenization technique by sonication. NLCs are commonly prepared by emulsification and lyophilization. The feasibility of fabricating tacrolimus-loaded NLCs was successfully demonstrated in this study. The developed NLCs were characterized in terms of their particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE) of tacrolimus, and morphology. Studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the NLCs in improving the penetration rate through hairless mouse skin. Tacrolimus-loaded NLCs were found to have an average size of $123.4{\pm}0.3\;nm$, a zeta potential of $-24.3{\pm}6.2\;mV$, and an EE of 50%. In vitro penetration tests revealed that the tacrolimus-loaded NLCs have a penetration rate that is 1.64 times that of the commercial tacrolimus ointment, Protopic$^{(R)}$.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2005

Itraconazole is a triazole antifungal agent to inhibit most fungal pathogens. However, it is difficult for itraconazloe to be delivered by topical system due to its poor aqueous solubility. First, niosomes containing drug were prepared with span 60, cholesterol. tocopherol and poloxamer 407 as vesicle forming agents in an effort to increase solubility of itraconazole. And then prepared niosomes were dispersed in O/W creams (containing xanthan gum, glycerin, vaseline, glyceryl monostearate and $Cerix^{\circledR}-5$) or gels (containing xanthan gum and poloxamer 407). Both creams and gels were evaluated with respect to their rheological properties, in vitro permeation through excised skin of hairless mouse. Creams or gels containing niosome showed pseudoplastic flow and hysteresis loop. For both creams and gels, viscosity was increased with increasing the content of glycerine or vaseline and the content of gel forming polymer, respectively. In creams, the permeability of drug to skin was decreased with increasing the viscosity of cream. The permeability of drug was affected by pH as well as viscosity of gel. In vitro permeation test results demonstrated that cream formulations showed better permeability than gels. In conclusion, these results suggest that creams formulation containing niosome can be useful for the topical delivery of intraconazole.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2000

Several topical preparations containing lidocaine, a widely used local anesthetic agent, have been developed and marketed recently for the treatment of premature ejaculation. In this study, microemulsion(ME)-based hydrogels containing lidocaine were prepared by dispersing ME to hydrogel bases such as Carbopol, sod. alginate, and sod. carboxymethylcellulose. Lidocaine-containing ME was thermodynamically stable over 6 months and had a diameter ranging from 10 to 100 nm. In vitro skin penetration of lidocaine from ME-based hydrogels followed apparent zero-order kinetics. ME-based hydrogel showed higher drug penetration during fifteen minutes after application than alcoholic hydrogel, reference preparation. Tail flick test in rat was introduced to compare in vivo local anesthetic effects of different hydrogels, and the results showed that ME-based hydrogels are superior to other hydrogels. In optical microscopy, recrystallization of lidocaine was observed within 5 min after application of reference hydrogel, but there was no change in ME-based hydrogels even after 30 minnute. These results indicated that ME-based hydrogels had some advantages in skin penetration, anesthetic effect and physical stability compared with alcoholic hydrogels. Finally it is possible to conclude that ME-based hydrogels containing lidocaine is a good topical drug delivery system for the treatment of premature ejaculation.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.359-364
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• 2007

Pine bark extract is well-known as a very powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic material. French maritime pine bark extract ($Pycnogenol^{(R)}$) of Horphag Research has monopolized the world market over 30 years. Korean red pine bark extract ($Pinexol^{(R)}$) was first manufactured by the patent technology of NutraPharm in Korea in 2006. Feasibility of topical gel and patch formulations of Pinexol was systematically investigated by evaluating the skin absorption of catechin as a reference compound. In vitro hairless mouse skin absorption of catechin from gel formulation was higher than that from patches. However, significant amount of catechin was also deposited inside the skin from patch formulations, which were dependent on the types of pressure sensitive adhesives. Thus, it seems to be feasible to control the topical delivery of Pinexol by using both gel and patch formulations, and be necessary to conduct further systematic investigation.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2007

The objective of this study is to prepare a stable delivery systems containing polyethoxylated retinamide(PERA) - derivatives of retinoic acid, effective anti-wrinkle and anti-acne agent. Cubic liquid crystalline phase gel (CLCPG) and cubosomes containing various concentrations of PERA were prepared to investigate the physicochemical properties. Furthermore, stability and transdermal absorption efficacy of the CLCPG containing PERA were investigated in comparison with oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions which are predominantly used as a topical formulation. CLCPG increase the stability of PERA in comparison with O/W emulsion. For tropical application, CLCPG containing PERA shows higher moisturizing effect than that of O/W emulsion. In skin permeation test, CLCPG shows higher PERA deposit on epidermis. With its specific physicochemical property caused by the glyceryl oleate, CLCPG itself could be used for stabilizer of various actives and applied as an effective delivery system for topical application. Cubosome, nano-sized dispersed CLCPG, is also expected to be applied in a various field of industry like food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.68-71
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• 2008

Transdermal and topical drug delivery with minimal tissue damage has been an area of vigorous research for a number of years. Our research team has initiated the development of an effective method for delivering drug particles across the skin (transdermal) for systemic circulation, and to localized (topical) areas. The device consists of a micro particle acceleration system based on laser ablation that can be integrated with endoscopic surgical techniques. A layer of micro particles is deposited on the surface of a thin metal foil. The rear side of the foil is irradiated with a laser beam, which generates a shockwave that travels through the foil. When the shockwave reaches the end of the foil, it is reflected as an expansion wave and causes instantaneous deformation of the foil in the opposite direction. Due to this sudden deformation, the microparticles are ejected from the foil at very high speeds, and therefore have sufficient momentum to penetrate soft body tissues. We have demonstrated this by successfully delivering cobalt particles $3\;{\mu}m$ in diameter into gelatin models that represent soft tissue with remarkable penetration depth.