Permeation enhancement of ascorbic acid by self-dissolving micropile array tip through rat skin

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Dermal Drug Delivery
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Percutaneous administration of ascorbic acid (AA) is challenging due to skin barrier properties.
• Chondroitin sulfate-based self-dissolving micropiles (SDMP) offer a novel approach for enhanced transdermal delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate ascorbic acid (AA) loaded self-dissolving micropiles (SDMP) for percutaneous administration.
• To assess the in vitro release, stability, and skin permeation of AA from SDMP.

Main Methods:

• SDMPs were fabricated using chondroitin sulfate, loaded with varying concentrations of AA, and characterized.
• In vitro dissolution and stability studies were conducted under controlled conditions.
• In vitro permeation studies using isolated rat skin and in vivo studies on anesthetized rat skin were performed to evaluate AA penetration.

Main Results:

• SDMPs demonstrated rapid in vitro release of AA (>90% within 5 min) and excellent stability (>99% after 1 week).
• Significant in vitro permeation of AA into receptor compartments was observed, attributed to compromised skin barrier function.
• AA permeation was dependent on both SDMP AA content and contact time, with higher permeation observed for high-content SDMPs and longer contact durations.

Conclusions:

• AA-loaded SDMP array tips are effective for percutaneous delivery of ascorbic acid.
• The developed SDMP system shows promise for enhancing transdermal AA absorption, overcoming conventional delivery limitations.