Title : Non-invasive method for screening drug penetration in skin using different dermal drug delivery systems by Raman microscopy
Abstract:
Dermal drug delivery systems are getting more attention nowadays because their application is beneficial in many conditions. Dermal application is advantageous due to a decrease in potential adverse reactions and the avoidance of first pass metabolism. However, the skin penetration of drugs is a really complex process because many factors have an impact on it.
The exact knowledge of drug distribution in the skin would be necessary for the optimization of dermal formulations by locate their penetration pathways. Spectroscopic methods can provide molecular information about the structure of skin specimens. Raman spectroscopy is a modern spectroscopic technique based on detecting the characteristic vibrational energy levels of a molecule. This technique is suitable for detecting changes in the structure of skin components and also for following-up the penetration of drug components.
The poster presentation will show the advantage of Raman microscopy on the screening of drug penetration in different skin layers. We used four different drug delivery systems (hydrogel, oleogel, lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) and nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC)) for screening drug penetration in skin. The model drug component was lidocaine.
Producing proper and spectacular images for the presenting the drug component presences in different skin regions, some other observations need to be done. Firstly, checking the Raman sensitivity of the chosen drug is necessary. In our work the lidocaine is suitable model component for the observation. The next step is the checking of different drug carriers’ spectral characteristics combining the drug component, placebo and drug containing dermal carrier systems spectra.
For the investigation the surface of human abdominal skin samples were coated with the different dermal carrier systems. After 6 hours treatment, the carrier systems were removed from the skin surface, and tissue samples were performed by using cryomicrotome. The specimens have been observed with Raman microscope, a distribution map of skin samples have been recorded (0.4 mm2 area, 205 spectra altogether). The Raman distribution maps can be prepared by evaluating the all recorded spectra. The results showed increased drug penetration in the following order: hydrogel, oleogel, LLC and NLC systems. In case of NLC system, lidocaine showed enrichment in lower dermis region.
This research was supported by the project nr. EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-00009, titled Establishing and Internationalizing the Thematic Network for Clinical Research. The project has been supported by the European Union, co-financed by the European Social Fund and the budget of Hungary.
Audience take away:
• Effective and non-destructive method of screening drug penetration in skin.
• Efficiency of Raman spectroscopy on pharmaceutical use.
• Different dermal drug delivery systems’ effect on skin penetration.
