ABSTRACT
Dexamethasone acetate (DEX), a potent anti-inflammatory, is used primarily in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. It was incorporated in CETETH 20 (polyoxyethylene 20 cetyl alcohol)-based liquid crystalline systems to enhance the purpose of the drug. Concomitant with the pharmaceutical technology performed, a HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantification of dexamethasone acetate in CETETH 20-based liquid crystalline systems for the evaluation of the drug in the new matrix. The method was performed using a C18 column with acetonitrile:methanol:water (35:35:30, v/v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min-1 at 239 nm. The method was linear in the range of 1-25 µg mL-1 ; the limit of quantification and limit of detection were 0.05 and 0.16 µg mL-1 , respectively; the accuracy of the method was 99.92% (relative standard deviation < 1%), and it presented intra-day and inter-day precision with deviations less than 1%. In this context, the method was successfully used to determine the incorporation efficiency of DEX in CETETH 20-based liquid crystalline systems and can be easily used by pharmaceutical companies and laboratories around the world.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Dexamethasone/analogs & derivatives , Liquid Crystals/chemistry , Dexamethasone/analysisABSTRACT
Nanotechnology offers advantages for new drug delivery design by providing drug targeting while minimizing the side effects. Polyoxyethylene 20 cetyl alcohol (CETETH-20) is a surfactant that may form nanostructured systems, such as liquid crystals, when in contact with water/oil, which are structurally similar to biological membranes and may improve skin interaction. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize CETETH 20-based nanostructured systems by combining CETETH-20 with water and different oily phases, including PEG-12-dimethicone for topical drug administration. The systems were characterized by polarized light microscopy (PLM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), rheology, texture profile analyses (TPA), in vitro cytotoxicity and histopathological analyses of rabbits' skin. Lamellar, hexagonal and cubic phases were identified and their viscoelastic moduli varied according to each phase. The stiffness of the cubic phase was 3-fold higher and twice more adhesive than the hexagonal phase. The formulations did not affect the normal macrophages cells, neither promoted skin irritation. They were spontaneously obtained by simply mixing the components, which corroborates for an ease scaled-up. These results suggest that systems composed of CETETH 20, PEG-12-dimethicone and water are a promising new approach for designing nanostructured topical drug delivery systems.
Subject(s)
Administration, Topical , Drug Carriers , Nanoparticles , Silicones , Surface-Active Agents , Animals , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cetomacrogol/administration & dosage , Cetomacrogol/chemistry , Cetomacrogol/toxicity , Drug Carriers/administration & dosage , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Drug Carriers/toxicity , Emulsions/chemistry , Fatty Alcohols/administration & dosage , Fatty Alcohols/chemistry , Fatty Alcohols/toxicity , Male , Mice , Nanoparticles/administration & dosage , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Nanoparticles/toxicity , Oleic Acid/chemistry , Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Polyethylene Glycols/toxicity , Rabbits , Silicones/administration & dosage , Silicones/chemistry , Silicones/toxicity , Skin/drug effects , Skin/pathology , Skin Irritancy Tests , Surface-Active Agents/administration & dosage , Surface-Active Agents/chemistry , Surface-Active Agents/toxicityABSTRACT
Melanoma (MEL) is a less common type of skin cancer, but it is more aggressive with a high mortality rate. The World Cancer Research Fund International (GLOBOCAN 2012) estimates that there were 230,000 new cases of MEL in the world in 2012. Conventional MEL treatment includes surgery and chemotherapy, but many of the chemotherapeutic agents used present undesirable properties. Drug delivery systems are an alternative strategy by which to carry antineoplastic agents. Encapsulated drugs are advantageous due to such properties as high stability, better bioavailability, controlled drug release, a long blood circulation time, selective organ or tissue distribution, a lower total required dose, and minimal toxic side effects. This review of scientific research supports applying a nanotechnology-based drug delivery system for MEL therapy.
