Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
11:27
A Package of Established Analytical Tools to Investigate the Solid-State Alteration of Lipid-Based Excipients
Published on: August 9, 2022
Phospholipid-based formulation with improved attributes of coal tar
Amit Bhatia1, Kaisar Raza, Bhupinder Singh
1Drug Delivery Research Group, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences - UGC Centre of Advanced Study, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
|December 5, 2009
Summary
A new lecithinized coal tar formulation (LCT) shows superior non-staining properties, better spreadability, and enhanced anti-psoriatic activity compared to conventional coal tar (CCT). This improved formulation offers greater patient compliance and efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Topical Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Coal tar formulations are traditional treatments for psoriasis.
- Conventional coal tar (CCT) formulations often present challenges with skin staining, application, and patient compliance.
- Improving the formulation characteristics of coal tar is crucial for enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the formulation characteristics and pharmacodynamic activity of a novel lecithinized coal tar formulation (LCT).
- To compare the LCT formulation with a conventional coal tar formulation (CCT) using various methodologies.
- To assess the potential of LCT for improved psoriasis treatment.
Main Methods:
- Skin-staining assessment using rat skin.
- Rheological property determination via Texture Analyzer.
- Water dispersibility evaluation through macroscopic examination.
- Antipsoriatic pharmacodynamic activity assessment using a mouse-tail model.
Main Results:
- Lecithinized coal tar (LCT) demonstrated non-staining properties and no adverse effects on rat skin.
- LCT exhibited superior spreadability and reduced stickiness compared to CCT.
- LCT formed uniform dispersions in water, unlike CCT which formed aggregates.
- Pharmacodynamic studies indicated significantly higher anti-psoriatic activity for LCT.
Conclusions:
- The lecithinized coal tar (LCT) formulation is non-staining, easily applicable, and water-dispersible.
- LCT offers markedly improved efficacy and patient compliance compared to conventional coal tar (CCT).
- The adopted evaluation methodologies are accurate, simple, specific, and reproducible for quality assurance of coal tar products.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Permeability Enhancement
After oral administration, poor permeability often limits the rate at which drugs are absorbed through the intestinal epithelium. Enhancing drug permeability is crucial for effective therapy, and several strategies have been developed to overcome this challenge.One effective strategy involves the use of lipid-based formulations. These formulations enhance dissolution and solubility, targeting physiological mechanisms to increase drug absorption. This includes stimulating bile salt secretion,...
01:30Micelles
Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...
03:22Colloids
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
01:27Surface Active Agents
Surfactants, named for their behavior at interfaces, positively adsorb at the interfaces of two phases, reducing interfacial tension. Their versatility as emulsifiers, detergents, and foaming agents stems from this ability. Surfactants, often termed amphiphiles, share the property of amphipathy, with molecules having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions. The hydrophilic part is called the head, and the hydrophobic part, including an elongated alkyl substituent, forms the tail.Surfactants...
01:31What are Lipids?
Lipids function as structural components of cellular membranes, in addition to acting as energy reservoirs and signaling molecules. They are thus crucial to all living organisms. The three biologically important classes of lipids are triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds...
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds...
01:38What are Lipids?
Overview