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Arthur's Project Page - RISE summer 2003 |
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Intern: Arthur Wojcicki, University of South Carolina
Mentor: Pankaj Karande
Faculty Supervisor: Samir Mitragotri
Department: Chemical Engineering |
BINARY FORMULATIONS IN THE ENHANCEMENT OF TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY
The world of chemical enhancers in transdermal drug delivery contains
hundreds of individual enhancers that allow up to a certain size molecule to
penetrate the stratum corneum (top layer of skin) and pass into the patient’s
blood stream. Each single enhancer is given a value of enhancement and skin
irritation. The theory involved leads the lab group to believe that a binary
combination of these enhancers should result in an ideal formulation with very
high enhancement and low skin irritation value. Many of the underlying
molecular mechanisms of these chemicals remain a mystery, which hinders the
progression of any rational design of such mixtures. However, through the
development of a new high throughput screening tool, several binary formulas
can be tested per day in order to analyze any patterns that may arise among
the numerous different types of enhancers used. Such categories include fatty
acids, fatty esters, fatty alcohols, ionic and nonionic surfacants, and
terpenes that offer different intermolecular interactions affecting the
enhancement of each unique combination. Enhancement is measured through
conductivity since it shows a strong linear relationship with permeability.
Several compositions already display positive synergistic transport enhancement,
in addition to negative and neutral synergy that can also aid in the further
understanding of these various enhancers.
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