ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the enhancing effect of N-trimethyl chitosan with degree of quaternization of 60% (TMC60) on the estradiol gel in vitro. METHODS: TMC60 was synthesized and the degree of quaternization was determined by 1H-NMR. Three different kinds of estradiol gels, 2% TMC60 group, 2% azone group and blank control group, were studied respectively. The cumulative penetration Q and steady penetration rate J in vitro were used as the indices. The cumulative penetration was calculated. RESULTS: The degree of quaternization of TMC60 was 67.2%. Significant difference was found the value Q and J of TMC60 group when compared to blank control group(P0.05). CONCLUSION: 2% TMC60 is a penetration enhancer with similar enhancing effect as 2% Azone, which deserves further research.