• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.491-497
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• 2004

We investigated some important factors which affect the transdermal flux of ketoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, as a first step to provide some basic knowledge for the development of a iontophoretic transdermal patch system. Factors such as current density, polarity, buffer (HEPES) and electrolyte concentration and pH were studied using hairless mouse skin. The effect of poly(L-lysin), which is known to affect the electro-osmotic flow through skin, on flux was also studied. Passive flux was about $20\;{\mu}g/cm^2hr$ at pH 4.0, but was negligible at pH 7.4 where all ketoprofen molecules dissolved are ionized (ketoprofen pKa=5.94). At pH 4.0, application of anodal current increased the flux further above the passive level, however anodal flux at pH 7.4 was much smaller than passive flux at pH 4.0. The application of cathodal current at pH 4.0 increased the average flux to $30-40\;{\mu}g/cm^2hr$, depending on the current density applied. At pH 7.4, cathodal flux was only about $5\;{\mu}g/cm^2hr$. Decrease in buffer and electrolyte concentration increased this cathodal flux about 10 fold. However decrease in HEPES buffer concentration 100 fold did not affect the flux. Anodal flux of acetaminophen was much larger than cathodal flux, indicating that electroosmotic flow can be playing an important role in the flux. Poly(L-lysin) increased the cathodal flux at pH 7.4. These results provide some important insights into the mechanism of transdermal flux of ketoprofen and the role of electroosmotic flow.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.223-228
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of developing transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) for fentanyl used for the management of chronic cancer pain. The effect of type of pressure sensitive adhesive on the permeation of fentanyl from polyisobutylene (PIB), silicone and acrylic adhesive was evaluated. Due to the good adhesive force and relatively steady flux for 3 days, both acrylic and PIB adhesives were chosen for further study. The permeation rate of fentanyl was the highest from acrylic adhesive with hydroxyl functional group. Permeation rate increased linearly as the concentration of fentanyl in acrylic adhesive was increased from 2.5% to 10%. In case of PIB adhesive, crystals of fentanyl were developed above 5% drug load. $Crovol^{(R)}$ A40, $Crovol^{(R)}$ PK40 and Plurol $oleique^{(R)}$ provided higher flux of fentanyl.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2010

The objective of this work is to study transdermal delivery of donepezil hydrochloride (DH) using iontophoresis and to evaluate various factors which affect the transdermal transport. After the flux study using 4 kinds of hydrogel, hydrogel containing 8% poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was chosen as the hydrogel for further studies. Under experimental condition, DH was stable. We have studied the effect of polarity, current density, drug concentration and current profile on transdermal flux and compared the results. In vitro flux study was performed at $33^{\circ}C$, using side-by-side diffusion cell and full thickness hairless mouse skin. DH is positively charged at pH 7.4, and anodal delivery was much larger than cathodal and passive delivery at all current densities studied (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mA/$cm^2$). Cathodal delivery showed higher flux than passive flux. Flux increased as the concentration of DH in hydrogel increased. Pulsatile application of current showed smaller flux value than the application of continuous current. Based on these results, we have evaluated the possibility of delivering enough amount of DH to reach the therapeutic level. The maximum cumulative amount of DH transported for 12 hours was 455 ${\mu}g/cm^2{\cdot}hr$ when the amount of DH in the hydrogel was 3 mg/mL and the current density was 0.4 mA/$cm^2$. If the patch size is 10 $cm^2$, then we can deliver 4.6 mg for 12 hours. Because the daily dosage of DH is 5 mg, it seems possible to deliver clinically effective amount of DH using iontophoresis. This study also provides some information about the role of electrorepulsion and electroosmosis during the transport through skin.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.337-341
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• 1999

We have studied the stability and transdennal flux of prostaglandin $E_1\;(PGE_1)$ from various donor solutions through hairless mouse skin. Stability in HEPES buffer or in propylene glycol (PG) solution where enhancer (oleic acid (OA), propylene glycol monolaurate (PGML), transcutol (TC), ethanol (EtOH))s dissolved was investigated. $$PGE_1 was not stable in HEPES buffer. The concentration of $$PGE_1 decreased continuously for 7 days, and the degradation rate constant was $0.0028\;h^{-1}$, assuming first order reaction. The effect of current or penetration enhancer on the degradation was minimal. Percutaneous transport from HEPES buffer by passive or iontophoretic delivery without enhancer was close to nil. When OA or PGML was used together with PG, both passive and iontophoretic flux increased. PGML showed better enhancing effect than OA. Flux by cathodal delivery was about 2 times larger than that by passive delivery. Flux by anodal delivery was lower than that by passive delivery. TC and EtOH also increased the transdermal flux, but the effect was not as good as that observed when OA or PGML was used. These stability and flux data provide important information on how to formulate the patch, which will be the next step of this work, and on the polarity of current to use during iontophoresis.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2011

The objective of this work is to study transdermal delivery of calcitonin using iontophoresis and to evaluate various factors which affect the transdermal transport. We have studied the effect of polarity, current density, drug concentration, penetration enhancers (isopropyl myristate [IPM] and ethanol) and laser treatment on transdermal flux and the results were compared. We also investigated the iontophoretic flux from microemulsions containing calcitonin together with oleic acid (OA) or IPM. In vitro flux study was performed at $33^{\circ}C$, using side-by-side diffusion cell and full thickness hairless mouse skin. Anodal delivery at pH 3.0 was much larger than cathodal and passive delivery, due to the positive charge of calcitonin. Cumulative amount delivered (CUM) by cathodal or passive delivery was close to zero for 10 hours. The pretreatment of skin by neat IPM markedly increased the CUM anodically. CUM increased as the current density, drug concentration or the duration of IPM treatment increased. Microemulsion containing IPM or oleic acid was prepared and the phase diagram was constructed. CUM also increased when IPM was incorporated into a microemulsion. OA microemulsion showed similar enhancing effect to IPM microemulsion. The delivery of calcitonin from 70% (v/v) ethanol aqueous solution showed a large increase in flux. Laser treatment of skin before flux experiment exhibited about 2 fold increase in total calcitonin amount transported for 12 hours, when compared to that delivered by IPM microemulsion. Based on these results, we have evaluated the possibility of delivering enough amount of calcitonin to reach the therapeutic level. The data suggest that it is highly possible to deliver clinically effective amount of calcitonin using iontophoresis patch with small area (<10 $cm^2$).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 1996

Four N-adamantyl n-alkanamides were prepared by amide condensation reaction between amantadine and n-alkanoic acid. Their enhancing activity on the penetration of ibuprofen through rabbit skin from petrolatum ointment was evaluated in in-vivo experiment. The experiments showed that the compounds have a strong transdermal penetration-enhancing activity, and their activities were comparable with that of Azone. The measurements of the fluorescence polarization of DP[-i-labelled DPPC liposomes showed that these compounds considerablly decreased the phase transition temperature of the liposomes. The mechanism of the transdermal penetration-enhancing activity of the compounds was ascribed to the reduction of the resistance to drug flux of the stratum corneum lipid layers due to the loose packing of the layers when the bulk head group of the enhancers inserts into the layers.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.506-512
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• 2001

Ketoprofen (KP) was formulated as a transdermal patch using the percutaneous penetration enhancers sorbitan monmmleate(SMO), polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP). The control patch without penetration enhancers showed a KP flux of 8.9$\pm$0.75$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{cm}^2$/h The flux was increased in proportion to the concentration of SMO added. Furthermore, lag times were decreased upon addition of SMO. Conversely; the skin flux of KP was decreased in proportion to the concentration of PVP added. Pharmacokinetic parameters including $C_{max}$, $T_{max}$, and AUC were increased when SMO was added. However, $C_{mas}$ significantly decreased by the addition of PVP. $T_{max}$ was not significantly different in 2%, 4%, and 8% PVP patches. Patches containing 4% PVP showed the highest AUC value (19.158$\mu\textrm{g}$.h/ml). We found that the effectiveness of the two percutaneous penetration enhancers for topical KP patches was similar, with the addition of appropriate amounts of HPC modifying both skin flux and lag time of KP in the patches. In conclusion, it is possible to manufacture KP patches exhibiting high AUC, high skin flux, and short lag time using percutaneous penetration enhancers of SMO and PVP.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 1995

Effects of sodium salts of various monovalent inorganic anions on transdermal permeation of salicylic acid were investigated. In in-vitro experiment using a Franz-type diffusion cell and excisicylic acid were investigated. In-vitro experiment using a Franze-type diffusion cell and excised mouse skin, the permeation-enhancing activities of the sodium salts of inoraganic anions were rougly proportional to lyotropic Hofmeister serlling abilities of the anions l F/sup -/

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.247-252
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• 2000

The advantages of transdermal administration are avoiding hepatic first pass effect, minimizing inter- and intra-patient variation, maintaining steady-state plasma level to provide long-term therapy from a single dose, and allowing a rapid termination of drug input. Clenbuterol, a selective ${\beta}_2-adrenergic$ receptor stimulant, has been introduced as a potent bronchodilator for patients with bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive bronchial disease. For the development of transdermal systems containing clenbuterol, two limiting factors - long lag time and low flux - must be overcome. In this study, we attempted to select optimal formulation for preparation of clenbuterol patch using hairless mouse skin and flow-through diffusion cell. The flux of clenbuterol increased as the percent of clenbuterol dose dependently in the concentration range of 5-15%. Based on this result, we fixed the concentration of clenbuterol as 15%. The effect of various penetration enhancers on percutaneous absorption of clenbuterol through hairless mouse skin was investigated. Labrafil was the most effective enhancer, which increased the permeability of clenbuterol approximately 4-fold compared with the control without penetration enhancer. Optimal enhancer concentration was 3%. The effect of various adhesives on penetration of clenbuterol was also investigated. Among the adhesives studied, MA-31 was the most effective adhesive. Furthermore, the clenbuterol patch composed of 15% clenbuterol, 3% Labrafil and 82% MA-31, which gave most excellent penetration of drug in in vitro penetration study, maintained therapeutic plasma levels in in vivo study using S.D. rats. These studies demonstrated a good feasibility of clenbuterol administration through the intact skin using a transdermal patch, and show a possibility of the development of clenbuterol patches.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 1999

We have studied the transdermal flux of prostaglandin $E_1$ $(PGE_1)$ from a hydrogel patch through hairless mouse skin, to test the possibility of developing a transdermal delivery system. Karaya gum patch containing $PGE_1$ was prepared by casting method. $PGE_1$ was stable in the patch for 10 weeks. The effect of current application, enhancer (propylene glycol monolaurate : PGML), adhesive and patch thickness on the flux was studied using side-by-side diffusion cell. Passive flux of $PGE_1$ was negligible. Cathodal delivery increased the flux about 20 fold. As the concentrations of PGML increased, flux increased. When 5% PGML was used as the enhancer, maximum flux by cathodal iontophoresis was $55\;{\mu}g/cm^2\;hr$. It increased about 2 folds to $100\;{\mu}g/cm^2\;hr$, when the amount of PGML used was 9%. Large increase in flux and the decrease in time to reach maximum flux were observed when the skin was pretreated with neat PGML (maximum flux obtained was about $200\;{\mu}g/cm^2\;hr$). Use of adhesive decreased the flux significantly. To the contrary of our expectation, increase in current density decreased the flux. These flux data together with the stability data indicate that, though the onset of sufficient delivery occur after 1-2 hours of application, therapeutic amount of $PGE_1$ can be delivered through skin using iontophoresis and penetration enhancer.