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Essential Fatty Acids as Transdermal Penetration Enhancers
Lindi van Zyl1, Jan du Preez1, Minja Gerber1
1Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
|February 9, 2016
Summary
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) were evaluated as penetration enhancers for transdermal flurbiprofen delivery. Evening primrose oil (EPO) demonstrated the most favorable enhancement in this formulation.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Dermatology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Transdermal drug delivery offers advantages over oral administration.
- Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are known to potentially enhance skin penetration.
- Flurbiprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) suitable for topical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of different EFA-containing penetration enhancers on transdermal flurbiprofen delivery.
- To compare the effects of Evening Primrose Oil (EPO), Vitamin F, and Pheroid technology on drug permeation.
- To determine if EFAs alone or within a Pheroid system improve transdermal drug transport.
Main Methods:
- Formulation of flurbiprofen creams with EPO, Vitamin F, and Pheroid technology.
- In vitro membrane release studies to assess drug permeation.
- Ex vivo topical skin delivery studies to quantify drug distribution in skin layers.
- Analysis of drug concentration in receptor phase simulating blood levels.
Main Results:
- Flurbiprofen release order from formulations: Vitamin F >> Control > EPO >> Pheroid.
- Highest average percentage of flurbiprofen diffused to the receptor phase was observed with the EPO formulation.
- The Pheroid formulation showed significantly lower delivery compared to the control (p < 0.05).
- Control formulation exhibited the highest average flux, followed closely by EPO.
Conclusions:
- Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) is the most effective chemical penetration enhancer among those tested for this flurbiprofen cream formulation.
- The Pheroid technology demonstrated the least efficacy in enhancing transdermal flurbiprofen delivery.
- EFAs, particularly in the form of EPO, show significant potential for improving topical drug delivery systems.
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