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Topical delivery of acyclovir and ketoconazole
Gerda A Jacobs1, Minja Gerber1, Maides M Malan1
1a Faculty of Health Sciences , Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University , Potchefstroom , South Africa.
Drug Delivery
|July 10, 2014
Summary
The novel Pheroid delivery system enhanced topical drug delivery for acyclovir and ketoconazole. Pheroid cream improved acyclovir penetration, while Pheroid emulgel boosted ketoconazole delivery for skin infections.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pharmaceutics
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Viral and fungal skin infections are common in immunocompromised individuals, including those with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
- Acyclovir and ketoconazole are standard treatments for viral and fungal cutaneous infections, respectively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a novel Pheroid delivery system in enhancing the transdermal and dermal delivery of acyclovir and ketoconazole.
- To assess the impact of incorporating the Pheroid system into semi-solid formulations (creams and emulgels) on drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Semi-solid formulations (creams, emulgels) of acyclovir and ketoconazole were prepared with and without the Pheroid delivery system.
- Formulation stability was assessed over six months, including active content, pH, viscosity, mass loss, and particle size.
- In vitro skin penetration and delivery were determined using Vertical Franz cell diffusion and tape stripping methods to evaluate stratum corneum (SC)-epidermis and epidermis-dermis penetration.
Main Results:
- While no formulation was completely stable, the Pheroid delivery system generally improved drug delivery.
- Acyclovir exhibited biphasic release kinetics in in vitro skin diffusion studies.
- Pheroid cream demonstrated the most significant enhancement in transdermal, SC-epidermis, and epidermis-dermis delivery of acyclovir.
- Pheroid emulgel showed the best transdermal and epidermis-dermis delivery of ketoconazole over 12 hours.
Conclusions:
- The Pheroid delivery system effectively enhances transdermal penetration and delivery into dermal and epidermal skin layers.
- Pheroid emulgel and Pheroid cream formulations significantly improved the topical delivery of ketoconazole and acyclovir, respectively.
- The Pheroid system shows promise for improving topical treatment of viral and fungal skin infections.
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