Two-phase delivery using a horse oil and adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patch for skin barrier restoration, moisturization, and wrinkle improvement.

BACKGROUND: Dissolving microneedles (DMNs) have been used for skin restoration and wrinkle improvement. Although lipophilic compounds, for example, natural oils or ceramides, enrich the skin barrier, their delivery via DMNs is challenging because of DMN fabrication difficulties. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we combined a topical formulation and a DMN patch to perform two-phase delivery comprising a lipophilic formulation and hydrophilic compound-loaded DMNs to improve skin barrier status and the efficacy of drug delivery. METHODS: Horse oil-spread and adenosine-loaded DMN arrays were developed in a single patch (HOS-Ad-DMN patch). In vitro analysis was conducted to confirm the successful delivery of the compositions. Clinical assessments were conducted on the lateral canthus of 20 women to compare the efficacy of HOS-Ad-DMN patches with that of adenosine-loaded DMN patches (Ad-DMN patches). RESULTS: Adenosine was delivered via the DMNs after skin penetration and horse oil was delivered successfully into the skin through the microchannels created by the Ad-DMNs. Compared with Ad-DMN patches, HOS-Ad-DMN patches significantly improved skin elasticity, hydration, dermal density, and wrinkles. No adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: HOS-Ad-DMN patches are a safe and efficient system for skin restoration and wrinkle improvement.

Enhanced Transdermal Delivery by Combined Application of Dissolving Microneedle Patch on Serum-Treated Skin.

Dissolving microneedle (DMN), a transdermal drug delivery system in which drugs are encapsulated in a biodegradable polymeric microstructure, is designed to dissolve after skin penetration and release the encapsulated drugs into the body. However, because of limited loading capacity of drugs within microsized structures, only a small dosage can be delivered, which is often insufficient for patients. We propose a novel DMN application that combines topical and DMN application simultaneously to improve skin permeation efficiency. Drugs in pretreated topical formulation and encapsulated drugs in DMN patch are delivered into the skin through microchannels created by DMN application, thus greatly increasing the delivered dose. We used 4-n-butylresorcinol to treat human hyperpigmentation and found that sequential application of serum formulation and DMNs was successful. In skin distribution experiments using Alexa Fluor 488 and 568 dyes as model drugs, we confirmed that the pretreated serum formulation was delivered into the skin through microchannels created by the DMNs. In vitro skin permeation and retention experiments confirmed that this novel combined application delivered more 4-n-butylresorcinol into the skin than traditional DMN-only and serum-only applications. Moreover, this combined application showed a higher efficacy in reducing patients' melanin index and hyperpigmented regions compared with the serum-only application. As combined application of DMNs on serum-treated skin can overcome both dose limitations and safety concerns, this novel approach can advance developments in transdermal drug delivery.

Application of the Mason-Schamp equation and ion mobility mass spectrometry to identify structurally related compounds in crude oil.

The various components of crude oil were structurally resolved using an atmospheric-pressure solids analysis probe (ASAP) coupled with ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS). An ASAP source was used to broadly fractionate compounds according to their boiling points, thereby simplifying the resulting mass spectra for easier data interpretation. The m/z-mobility plots obtained by IM-MS analysis of crude oil could be used to find the structural relationship between crude oil molecules. That was demonstrated using ion mobility mass spectra from a homologous series of compounds, differing only by the number of alkyl units, found in crude oil. The peaks from this series were linearly aligned in the plot, suggesting a continuous increase of the collisional cross section with an increase of mass values and hence the absence of significant structural differences within the series. In contrast, peaks in a homologous series differing only in the number of pendant hydrogen atoms were not linearly aligned, suggesting a discontinuous increase of the collisional cross section with an increase of mass values and hence significant structural differences due to the addition or removal of hydrogen. Cases in which a slope change was observed at three- or four-peak intervals may be related to the addition of an aromatic ring to existing structures. Overall, ion mobility mass spectrometry demonstrates a useful tool that can be used to elucidate structural relationships between molecules comprising crude oil.

Combination of statistical methods and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry for more comprehensive, molecular-level interpretations of petroleum samples.

Complex petroleum mass spectra obtained by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS) were successfully interpreted at the molecular level by applying principle component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). A total of 40 mass spectra were obtained from 20 crude oil samples using both positive and negative atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). Approximately 400,000 peaks were identified at the molecular level. Conventional data analyses would have been impractical with so much data. However, PCA grouped samples into score plots based on their molecular composition. In this way, the overall compositional difference between samples could be easily displayed and identified by comparing score and loading plots. HCA was also performed to group and compare samples based on selected peaks that had been grouped by PCA. Subsequent heat map analyses revealed detailed compositional differences among grouped samples. This study demonstrates a promising new approach for studying multiple, complex petroleum samples at the molecular level.