ABSTRACT
Objective To study the percutaneous permeability characteristic of podophyllotoxin (POD) ethosomes in vitro. Methods Excised SD-rat abdomen skin was used as penetration barrier. The steady penetration rate and the skin residual amount were calculated to evaluate the percutaneous permeability of POD from ethosomes, tinctures, liposome, 30% hydro-ethanolic suspension, mixture of drug and blank ethosomes, respectively. Results The skin residual amount of POD in the ethosomes group was 8.17 ug/cm2 in 12 h, higher than those in the other groups. In addition, the steady penetration rate of POD in the ethosomes group decreased significantly compared with those in the liposome group with POD loading being 0.5%, and the hydro-ethanolic suspension group (P < 0.05), while no obvious difference was seen among the ethosomes group and the other groups. Conclusion Higher skin residual amount and lower steady penetration rate are observed in the ethosomes group.