Percutaneous absorption of sunscreens in vitro: interspecies comparison, skin models and reproducibility aspects.

Appropriate evaluation of sunscreens is required to provide better knowledge of their safety and efficacy. One of the most important elements of this evaluation is the assessment of percutaneous absorption. In vitro methods are largely used for such assessments, and the accuracy of the measurements generated with these methods depends on the use of a proper methodology. This study was designed to evaluate an in vitro protocol for investigating the percutaneous absorption of two sunscreens under standardized experimental conditions. Octyl methoxycinnamate and benzophenone 4 were each incorporated in a typical oil-in-water emulsion and tested separately. Salicylic acid was tested as a reference compound. In vitro percutaneous absorption was evaluated using two species, the pig and human, and two models, full-thickness and split-thickness skin. The reproducibility of study results was evaluated by comparing the data generated by two industrial laboratories, L'Oréal and Hoffmann-La Roche. The correlation of quantitative data between pig skin and human skin was very good, and the split-thickness skin model seemed to be more appropriate for measuring the absorption of sunscreens. Results obtained for salicylic acid demonstrated the relevance of the protocol in terms of prediction of in vivo percutaneous absorption. Finally, the comparison of pig skin data between the two laboratories demonstrated a good correlation and underlined the need for a standardized in vitro procedure.

Fluoroquinolone antibacterials enhance UVA-induced skin tumors.

Fluoroquinolone antibacterials are known to be phototoxic, both in vivo and in vitro. The action spectrum for the phototoxicity of the quinolones lies mainly in the UVA region. During studies of systemic drug phototoxicity, Johnson et al. (Dundee) induced dose-dependent phototoxicity in Swiss albino mice, and severe phototoxic reactions were followed by the development of skin tumors. The present study was designed to compare the ability of several quinolones to produce photobiologic effects following chronic, subphototoxic UVA radiation. To compare the activities of different quinolones (lomefloxacin, fleroxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and nalidixic acid), doses that result in similar plasma and skin levels of drug were administered by gavage to slightly pigmented Skh-1 hairless mice for up to 78 weeks. 8-Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) was used as a positive control, and unirradiated, drug-treated and irradiated and unirradiated drug-free controls were also used. No signs of phototoxicity were seen, except for minimal-to-slight erythema and swelling of the skin in animals of the lomefloxacin-UVA group. Skin tumors (1 mm in diameter or larger) were observed in all the irradiated groups and the incidence was increased in all the groups treated with the test articles. The cumulative tumor prevalence was accelerated, the median latent periods were shortened and tumor onset was significantly enhanced by 8-MOP plus UVA, lomefloxacin plus UVA and fleroxacin plus UVA, as compared with vehicle plus UVA-exposed animals. The majority of skin tumors (with the exception of lomefloxacin and 8-MOP) were benign. The majority of squamous cell carcinomas in the lomefloxacin group were of a histologic type different from those previously reported in UVA-exposed animals. Thus, all the fluoroquinolone antibiotics studied have the capability of enhancing UVA-induced phototumorigenesis, but only lomefloxacin caused the development of cystic squamous cell carcinomas in the majority of treated animals.

EEC/COLIPA project on in vitro phototoxicity testing: First results obtained with a Balb/c 3T3 cell phototoxicity assay.

In a joint validation project eight laboratories from the European Cosmetic Industry Association (COLIPA) as well as FRAME (England) and ZEBET (Germany) are trying to develop validated in vitro methods to be incorporated into new international guidelines for acute phototoxicity testing. The first stage of the study involved selection of the most promising in vitro phototoxicity tests for further validation. 20 chemicals with known phototoxic properties (12 phototoxins, four UV-absorbing non-phototoxins and four non-UV absorbing non-phototoxins) were tested under identical conditions of UV exposure conditions (sun simulator, UVA 5 J/cm(2)) in a standardized cytotoxicity assay with Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts (endpoint: neutral red uptake, NRU). 19 of the 20 chemicals were correctly classified by the 3T3 NRU phototoxicity test, and therefore, this simple assay for phototoxicity seems very promising and should be validated further.

Loceryl nail lacquer--realization of a new galenical approach to onychomycosis therapy.

Loceryl nail lacquer was developed to provide the effective antifungal drug, amorolfine, in a once-weekly dosage regimen combined with a convenient mode of application. Traditional formulations such as creams and nail solutions do not fulfil these requirements because they are wiped or washed off very rapidly. Amorolfine nail lacquer builds a non-water-soluble film on the nail plate, and this film remains in place for 1 week. The film contains a high concentration of amorolfine and forms a depot from which the drug is delivered and which allows the drug to permeate the nail plate. The film-forming polymer and the solvent were optimized for drug release, stability, and convenience of application (drying time, no gloss, transparency). In preclinical development, porcine hoof horn was used as a screening model to differentiate between formulations and dosage strengths with respect to the penetration rate. A high drug concentration of 11.72 micrograms/specimen (10 mm in diameter) was reached in the hoof horn after 6 h, increasing to 39.5 micrograms/specimen within 7 days, the maximum duration of the investigation. The drug concentration achieved was far above its minimum inhibitory concentration. Furthermore, the penetration model clearly indicated that amorolfine crossed the horn barrier and was found in the moistened gauze which simulated the nail bed. After a 7-day penetration period, 1.8% of the applied dose (500 micrograms) was available under the nail.

Preparation of an oakmoss absolute with reduced allergenic potential.

Synopsis Oakmoss absolute, an extract of the lichen Evernia prunastri, is known to cause allergenic skin reactions due to the presence of certain aromatic aldehydes such as atranorin, chloratranorin, ethyl hematommate and ethyl chlorohematommate. In this paper it is shown that treatment of Oakmoss absolute with amino acids such as lysine and/or leucine, lowers considerably the content of these allergenic constituents including atranol and chloratranol. The resulting Oakmoss absolute, which exhibits an excellent olfactive quality, was tested extensively in comparative studies on guinea pigs and on man. The results of the Guinea Pig Maximization Test (GPMT) and Human Repeated Insult Patch Test (HRIPT) indicate that, in comparison with the commercial test sample, the allergenicity of this new quality of Oakmoss absolute was considerably reduced, and consequently better skin tolerance of this fragrance for man was achieved.

Percutaneous absorption, metabolism, and hemolytic activity of n-butoxyethanol.

A series of studies was conducted to examine the percutaneous absorption, distribution, excretion, and hemolytic activity of n-butoxyethanol (BE). Rats receiving a subcutaneous dose of 14C-labeled BE excreted the radioactivity in the urine (79%), expired air (10%), and feces (0.5%) within 72 hr. Of the organs analyzed, thymus and spleen showed elevated specific radioactivities as compared with blood. A percutaneous application of BE on rats, under nonocclusive conditions, showed 25-29% absorption within 48 hr. Peak blood levels of BE occurred at 2 hr after application; butoxyacetic acid (BAA) was found to be the major metabolite. Comparison of in vitro skin penetration data showed the following absorption pattern of BE: hairless rat much greater than pig greater than human skin. Hemolysis and associated hematological changes were noted in the rats which received single dermal applications of 260-500 mg/kg of BE. In vitro, BAA showed markedly greater hemolytic ability on rat erythrocytes than did BE. Human erythrocytes showed no hemolysis when incubated with BE or BAA at concentrations that are hemolytic to rat erythrocytes. An intravenous dose of 62.5 mg/kg of BE does not result in hemolysis or hemoglobinuria in the rat. The rat may be an animal model with increased susceptibility to the effects of BE compared with humans because of its rapid percutaneous absorptive ability and its greater hemolytic sensitivity.

Sensitizing potential of 14 mono (meth) acrylates in the guinea pig.

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the sensitizing potential of 14 mono(meth)acrylates, when tested by the guinea pig maximization test (GPMT) and Freund's complete adjuvant test (FCAT) with an identical, intradermal induction concentration. A new grading classification of the sensitization potential is proposed. Mono(meth)acrylates show a wide range of sensitizing potential. Compared with other (meth)acrylates, methyl methacrylate is a moderate sensitizer. Attention was paid to concomitant sensitization of additives. In 9 of 16 FCATs, concomitant sensitization occurred to the inhibitors hydroquinone and p-methoxyphenol.