Rational development of topical climbazole formulations.

Dandruff, or pityriasis capitis simplex, is a common scalp condition associated with excessive flaking and scaling of the epidermal tissue. Other features include irregular corneocyte turnover, irritation, itching and an impaired skin barrier function. Previously we reported the characterization of climbazole (CBZ), an antifungal agent used in the management of dandruff. Skin permeation of CBZ from neat solvents was also investigated. In the present work we evaluated CBZ permeation in human skin in vitro from more complex formulations that better represent products used by consumers. The various systems studied were composed of propylene glycol (PG), Transcutol®P (TC), octyl salicylate (OSal) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). As well as measurement of skin uptake and penetration of CBZ, where possible, the skin retention and permeation of the various solvents was also determined. All vehicles promoted skin permeation of CBZ but no significant differences in amount permeated were evident between the binary vehicles (PG:TC, TC:OSal) and the ternary vehicle studied (PG:IPA:OSal). The binary vehicles generally promoted more skin uptake of CBZ compared with the neat solvents (PG, TC, OSal) studied previously. Permeation and skin extraction of CBZ from the PG:TC vehicles increased with increasing PG content; a similar trend was evident for the PG:IPA:OSal systems. New methods were developed and validated for measurement of PG, TC and OSal. Analysis of the individual solvents indicated that PG permeation was also independent of the amounts of other solvents in the binary or ternary systems. Consistent with previous findings higher proportions of TC permeated compared with PG for the PG:TC binary systems; TC also permeated the skin more rapidly than PG from these vehicles. For OSal, skin extraction was generally higher for TC:OSal compared with the PG:IPA:OSal vehicle. However, increasing the content of OSal did not appear to influence CBZ skin uptake nor permeation. Interestingly, the effects of the various PG:TC vehicles on CBZ skin delivery contrast with results we previous reported for the same systems for a different active. This confirms that with reference to skin permeation, formulation effects and/or skin penetration enhancement should be expected to vary and may not be predicted for specific vehicles.

Characterization of piroctone olamine for topical delivery to the skin.

OBJECTIVE: Dandruff and its more severe related condition, seborrheic dermatitis affects a high proportion of the population at some point in their life. Piroctone olamine, also known as Octopirox® (OPX) is the monoethanolamine salt of piroctone and is an antifungal agent widely used for the management of dandruff. The aim of the present work was to characterize the physicochemical properties of piroctone olamine and to conduct pre-formulation studies for the development of novel topical formulations of this active. METHODS: An HPLC method was developed and validated for the analysis of OPX. The melting point was determined using the DSC Q2000 (TA Instruments, USA). The distribution coefficient (logD(O/PBS) ) and partition coefficient (log Po/w ) was determined in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) AND deionized (DI) water using the shake flask method. All experiments were performed at room temperature. The solubility was determined experimentally by adding amount of active to a solvent. The samples were kept at 32° ± 1°C for 48 h in a water bath. The stability of the compound was determined in a range of solvents by preparing solutions of 1 mg mL-1 in the relevant solvents. These solutions were kept and stirred throughout the experiment at 32 ± 1°C, and aliquots were taken at 24, 48 and 96 h. RESULTS: The HPLC method was developed successfully; however, samples at the lower end of the calibration curve showed lower degrees of precision and accuracy. Based on experiments with DSC, the melting point was observed at an onset temperature of 132.4°C. The LogD was determined to be 1.84. The compound had the highest solubility in methanol (278.4 mg mL-1 ) and propylene glycol (PG), with a value of 248.8 mg mL-1 . The lowest solubility for OPX was in dimethyl isosorbide (9.9 mg mL-1 ), Labrafac™ (3.6 mg mL-1 ) and isostearyl isostearate (0.5 mg mL-1 ). Over the 4 days, OPX showed stability in ethanol and PG, while a notable decrease in OPX was observed in PBS and DI water at 32 ± 1°C. CONCLUSION: The physicochemical properties of OPX were characterized to find suitable excipients able to target the epidermis for topical delivery. Building on these findings, future work will focus on the development of novel topical formulation of OPX.

OBJECTIF: la production de pellicules et la maladie plus grave qui y est apparentée, la dermatite séborrhéique, touchent une grande partie des personnes à un moment donné de leur vie. La piroctone olamine, également connue sous le nom d'Octopirox® (OPX), est le sel de monoéthanolamine de la piroctone. Il s'agit d'un agent antifongique largement utilisé pour le traitement des pellicules. L'objectif de ce travail était de caractériser les propriétés physicochimiques de la piroctone olamine et de mener des études de préformulation pour le développement de nouvelles formulations topiques de ce principe actif. MÉTHODES: une méthode de chromatographie liquide à haute performance (CLHP) a été développée et validée pour l'analyse de l'OPX. Le point de fusion a été déterminé à l'aide du calorimètre à balayage différentiel (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, DSC) Q2000 (TA Instruments, États-Unis). Le coefficient de distribution (logD(Octanol/PBS) ) et le coefficient de partage (log Poctanol/eau , ou log Poe ) ont été déterminés dans le tampon phosphate salin (phosphate buffered saline, PBS) et dans l'eau désionisée (deionised, DI) à l'aide de la méthode par agitation en flacon. Toutes les expériences ont été réalisées à température ambiante. La solubilité a été déterminée de manière expérimentale. Une certaine quantité du principe actif a été ajoutée au solvant. Les échantillons ont été conservés à une température de 32 °C ± 1 °C pendant 48 h dans un bain-marie. La stabilité du composé a été déterminée à l'aide d'une gamme de solvants. Des solutions de 1 mg mL−1 ont été préparées dans les solvants correspondants. Les solutions ont été conservées et agitées tout au long de l'expérience à une température de 32°C ± 1°C. Des aliquotes ont été prélevées après 24, 48 et 96 h. RÉSULTATS: la méthode CLHP a été développée avec succès. Toutefois, les échantillons situés dans la partie inférieure de la courbe d'étalonnage ont montré des degrés inférieurs de précision et d'exactitude. Sur la base des expériences avec le DSC, le point de fusion a été observé à une température initiale de 132,4°C. Le LogD a été déterminé à 1,84. Le composé présentait la solubilité la plus élevée dans le méthanol (278,4 mg mL−1 ) et le propylène glycol (PG), avec une valeur de 248,8 mg mL−1 . L'OPX présentait la solubilité la plus faible dans l'isosorbide de diméthyle (9,9 mg.mL−1 ), le LabrafacTM (3,6 mg mL−1 ) et l'isostéarate d'isostéaryle (0,5 mg mL−1 ). Sur les 4 jours, l'OPX a montré une stabilité dans l'éthanol et le PG, tandis qu'il a diminué de manière notable dans le PBS et l'eau désionisée à une température de 32°C ± 1°C. CONCLUSION: les propriétés physicochimiques de l'OPX ont été caractérisées afin de trouver des excipients appropriés capables de cibler l'épiderme dans le cadre d'une administration topique. En s'appuyant sur ces résultats, les travaux futurs se concentreront sur le développement d'une nouvelle formulation topique de l'OPX.

Topical delivery of climbazole to mammalian skin.

Dandruff is a common condition, affecting up to half the global population of immunocompetent adults at some time during their lives and it has been highly correlated with the over-expression of the fungus Malassezia spp. Climbazole (CBZ) is used as an antifungal and preservative agent in many marketed formulations for the treatment of dandruff. While the efficacy of CBZ in vitro and in vivo has previously been reported, limited information has been published about the uptake and deposition of CBZ in the skin. Hence, our aim was to investigate the skin permeation of CBZ as well as the influence of various solvents on CBZ skin delivery. Four solvents were selected for the permeability studies of CBZ, namely propylene glycol (PG), octyl salicylate (OSal), Transcutol® P (TC) and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG). The criteria for selection were based on their wide use as excipients in commercial formulations, their potential to act as skin penetration enhancers and their favourable safety profiles. 1% (w/v) solutions of CBZ were applied under infinite and finite dose conditions using Franz type diffusion cells to human and porcine skin. In line with the topical use of CBZ as an antidandruff agent, comparatively low amounts of CBZ penetrated across the skin barrier (<1% of the applied dose of CBZ). Finite dose studies resulted in a higher extraction of CBZ from human skin compared with infinite dose studies (p < 0.05). CBZ was also taken up to a higher extent in porcine skin (>7-fold) compared with human skin (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, no statistical differences were observed in the amounts that permeated across the different membranes. These preliminary results confirm the potential of simple formulations of CBZ to target the outer layers of the epidermis. The PG and OSal formulations appear to be promising vehicles for CBZ in terms of overall skin extraction and penetration. Future work will expand the range of vehicles studied and explore the reasons underlying the retention of CBZ in the outer layers of the skin.

Topical delivery of hexamidine.

Hexamidine diisethionate (HEX D) has been used for its biocidal actions in topical preparations since the 1950s. Recent data also suggest that it plays a beneficial role in skin homeostasis. To date, the extent to which this compound penetrates the epidermis has not been reported nor how its topical delivery may be modulated. In the present work we set out to characterise the interaction of HEX D with the skin and to develop a range of simple formulations for topical targeting of the active. A further objective was to compare the skin penetration of HEX D with its corresponding dihydrochloride salt (HEX H) as the latter has more favourable physicochemical properties for skin uptake. Candidate vehicles were evaluated by in vitro Franz cell permeation studies using porcine skin. Initially, neat solvents were investigated and subsequently binary systems were examined. The solvents and chemical penetration enhancers investigated included glycerol, dimethyl isosorbide (DMI), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), 1,2-pentanol (1,2-PENT), polyethylene glycol (PEG) 200, propylene glycol (PG), propylene glycol monolaurate (PGML) and Transcutol(®)P (TC). Of a total of 30 binary solvent systems evaluated only 10 delivered higher amounts of active into the skin compared with the neat solvents. In terms of topical efficacy, formulations containing PGML far surpassed all other solvents or binary combinations. More than 70% of HEX H was extracted from the skin following application in PG:PGML (50:50). Interestingly, the same vehicle effectively promoted skin penetration of HEX D but demonstrated significantly lower uptake into and through the skin (30%). The findings confirm the unpredictable nature of excipients on delivery of actives with reference to skin even where there are minor differences in molecular structures. We also believe that they underline the ongoing necessity for fundamental studies on the interaction of topical excipients with the skin.