Transdermal powdered drug delivery is an emerging technology for the injection of drugs through human skin, in which particles of solid drug are entrained in a high-speed gas flow and directed towards the skin at a high enough velocity to penetrate the outer layer of dead cells. Hand-held devices based on this idea offer a means of safe, painless and effective delivery of many drugs and vaccines. This thesis describes a programme of research into the fluid dynamics which determine the particle velocity distribution, the most important mechanical characteristic of the system, in prototype drug delivery devices. Pressure measurements are described which enable characterisation of the gas flow in the drug delivery devices. These are complemented by optical particle detection experiments, which provide a record of the timing of drug particle delivery with respect to the gas flow. Doppler Global Velocimetry (DGV) has been used to measure the velocity field of drug particles. Various tasks involved in the application of DGV to these flow-fields are described. In particular, the use of time-integrated DGV for measurements of unsteady, short-duration flows is discussed. Time-integrated DGV, applied at a range of operating conditions, has provided information on the variation of particle delivery velocity with particle size and with total mass of particles. Time-resolved DGV measurements reveal that particles first emerge in a slow-moving cloud which is driven by transient starting process in the gas flow, followed by a faster stream of particles entrained in a quasi-steady gas flow. The experimental results are complemented by numerical computations of certain aspects of the drug delivery flows. These computations are compared with experimental results, and used to gain additional information on the functioning of the system as a whole.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-132).

Abstract not available

The interest in microemulsions as transdermal delivery systems have been motivated by their large surface area for mass transfer, their high solubilization capacity of hydrophobic actives, and their ability to improve skin penetration. Lecithins (mixtures of phospholipids similar to those find in the skin) have been proposed as ideal surfactants in microemulsions due to their skin compatibility. Unfortunately, their incorporation into microemulsions used to require toxic medium-chain alcohols or viscous polymeric co-surfactants. Recently, microemulsion-base “green solvents” were formulated with lecithin and linker molecules. The main objective of this dissertation was to test this concept of linker-based lecithin microemulsions in transdermal delivery. In the first part of this study, linker-based lecithin formulations were developed using soybean lecithin as main surfactant, sorbitol monooleate as lipophilic linker, and caprylic acid/sodium caprylate as hydrophilic linkers. These additives, at the suggested concentration, are safe for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. The low toxicity of these formulations was confirmed in cultured human skin tissues. The solubilization and permeation of a common anaesthetic, lidocaine, was evaluated. The concept of “skin” permeability was introduced to account for the differences in solvent-skin partition when comparing different delivery systems. The linker-based lecithin microemulsion produced a substantial absorption of lidocaine into the skin, when compared to a conventional pentanol-lecithin microemulsion. The second part of this study takes advantage of the lidocaine adsorbed in the skin with the linker-based lecithin microemulsion as reservoir for in situ skin patches. The in situ patches were able to release 90% of the lidocaine over 24 hours, which is comparable to the release profile obtained from conventional polymer or gel-based patches. In the third part of this work, the role of surfactant droplets on the transport of lidocaine was studied. A mass balance model that accounted for mass transfer and partition coefficients was introduced. The parameters generated from the model confirm that in most cases the transport through the skin limits the overall penetration of lidocaine. Besides the conventional diffusion mechanism, the results suggest that surfactant droplets, carrying lidocaine, also penetrate into the skin and contribute to the accumulation of the lidocaine in the skin.

The interest in microemulsions as transdermal delivery systems have been motivated by their large surface area for mass transfer, their high solubilization capacity of hydrophobic actives, and their ability to improve skin penetration. Lecithins (mixtures of phospholipids similar to those find in the skin) have been proposed as ideal surfactants in microemulsions due to their skin compatibility. Unfortunately, their incorporation into microemulsions used to require toxic medium-chain alcohols or viscous polymeric co-surfactants. Recently, microemulsion-base “green solvents” were formulated with lecithin and linker molecules. The main objective of this dissertation was to test this concept of linker-based lecithin microemulsions in transdermal delivery. In the first part of this study, linker-based lecithin formulations were developed using soybean lecithin as main surfactant, sorbitol monooleate as lipophilic linker, and caprylic acid/sodium caprylate as hydrophilic linkers. These additives, at the suggested concentration, are safe for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. The low toxicity of these formulations was confirmed in cultured human skin tissues. The solubilization and permeation of a common anaesthetic, lidocaine, was evaluated. The concept of “skin” permeability was introduced to account for the differences in solvent-skin partition when comparing different delivery systems. The linker-based lecithin microemulsion produced a substantial absorption of lidocaine into the skin, when compared to a conventional pentanol-lecithin microemulsion. The second part of this study takes advantage of the lidocaine adsorbed in the skin with the linker-based lecithin microemulsion as reservoir for in situ skin patches. The in situ patches were able to release 90% of the lidocaine over 24 hours, which is comparable to the release profile obtained from conventional polymer or gel-based patches. In the third part of this work, the role of surfactant droplets on the transport of lidocaine was studied. A mass balance model that accounted for mass transfer and partition coefficients was introduced. The parameters generated from the model confirm that in most cases the transport through the skin limits the overall penetration of lidocaine. Besides the conventional diffusion mechanism, the results suggest that surfactant droplets, carrying lidocaine, also penetrate into the skin and contribute to the accumulation of the lidocaine in the skin.

The transdermal delivery route has become a popular alternative to more conventional routes, such as oral administration, but has not yet reached its full potential (Prausnitz & Langer, 2008:1261). Although the transdermal route proves to have several advantages over the conventional route, the greatest challenge is to overcome the effective barrier of the skin (Jepps et al., 2012:153). The permeation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) through the skin is a complex, multi-step process and therefore predicting the permeability of the API is difficult (Jepps et al., 2012:153; Williams, 2003:30). Various approaches have been developed to overcome the skin barrier and it is recognised that the nature of the vehicle in which the API is applied plays a significant role in promoting transdermal delivery (Foldvari, 2000:417). It is important to consider the fate of the formulation ingredients and the API after application and how this changes the composition of the formulation on the skin when developing a vehicle for transdermal delivery (Lane et al., 2012:496; Otto et al., 2009:2). Wiechers (2012) proposed the Skin Delivery Gap (SDG) as an indicator for the permeability of an API. An API with a SDG < 1 will readily permeate the skin, whilst an SDG > 1 indicates a more complex delivery system is required. The partitioning of the API between the skin and the formulation is influenced by the formulation and by altering the formulation properties it is possible to manipulate the transdermal delivery of the API. The relative polarity index (RPI), based on the octanol-water partition coefficient (log P) of the stratum corneum, formulation and the API, was initially developed by Wiechers as a tool for developing formulations with an optimal polarity, to ensure the transdermal delivery of at least 50% of the API (Lane et al., 2012:498; Wiechers, 2008:94; Wiechers et al., 2004:174). The use of log P as an indicator of polarity was considered impractical by Hansen (2013) and acknowledged by both Wiechers and Abbott, who consequently developed the Formulating for Efficacy™ (FFE™) software which uses Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) instead of log P to indicate polarity (Hansen, 2013). The FFE™ calculates HSP distances, known as gaps, between the skin, API and the formulation to indicate the solubility of the different components in each other. A smaller HSP gap indicates a high solubility. The FFE™ enables the formulator to develop a formulation with a good balance between the active-formulation gap (AFG) and the skin-formulation gap (SFG) to ensure sufficient diffusion of the API into the skin. The FFE™ software was used to develop formulations containing 1.5% atropine as a model drug. Formulations of different polarity (optimised towards the stratum corneum, more hydrophilic and more lipophilic) were developed to determine the effect of the polarity of the formulation and the relevant HSP gaps on the transdermal delivery of the API. The same formulations were utilised for atropine sulphate to determine the effect the salt form has on the transdermal delivery of the API compared to the base compound. The log P and octanol-buffer partition coefficient (log D) of both atropine and atropine sulphate were determined. Log D is a more reliable indicator of distribution compared to log P, since, it considers the degree of ionisation of the API (Ashford, 2007:294). The log P and log D of atropine (0.22 and -1.26) and atropine sulphate (-1.32 and -1.23) both predicted poor skin penetration (Brown et al., 2005:177). The aqueous solubility of atropine (0.9 mg/ml) also predicted limited transdermal delivery, while the solubility of atropine in phosphate buffer solution (PBS pH 7.4) (5.8 mg/ml) indicated favourable permeation (Naik et al., 2000:321). The high degree of ionisation of the API (99.68 %), at pH 7.4, predicts only a small amount will penetrate the skin (Barry, 2007:576). The membrane release study confirmed the API was released from the different formulations and subsequently skin diffusion studies were conducted, followed by tape stripping after 12 h, to determine which formulation resulted in the highest transdermal delivery of the API. The atropine hydrophilic formulation released the highest percentage of API after 6 h (13.930%). This was explained by the low affinity the lipophilic atropine has towards the hydrophilic formulation (Otto et al., 2009:9). The highest percentage transdermal delivery (0.065%) was observed with the lipophilic formulation containing atropine. The higher SFG compared to the AFG of the lipophilic formulation initially predicted poor transdermal delivery, but when considering the HSP profile and molar volume of the different ingredients, it was observed the dimethyl isosorbide (DMI) penetrated and provided a desirable environment for the API in the skin. The residual formulation (containing less DMI and more polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 8) and liquid paraffin) was less desirable for the API and was therefore forced out of the formulation (Abbott, 2012:219). Both these factors contributed to the high transdermal delivery of atropine from the lipophilic formulation. The atropine sulphate hydrophilic formulation had the highest percentage in the stratum corneum-epidermis (0.29 μg/ml) and the hydrophilic formulation of both atropine and atropine sulphate had the highest concentration in the epidermis-dermis (both 0.55 μg/ml). The hydrophilic formulations had the lowest driving force provided by the AFG and the only driving force for the API to leave the formulation was the concentration gradient. These formulations had the lowest transdermal delivery which indicates the API had not fully traversed through the skin after 12 h. According to Wiechers, a minimised SFG would indicate the formulation is optimised towards the stratum corneum and should essentially deliver the highest percentage of API through the skin. The results obtained are contrary to this belief and it is concluded that the total HSP profile and the molar volume of the formulation and the API should be considered when developing a formulation with optimal transdermal delivery rather than just the SFG. / MSc (Pharmaceutics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The transdermal delivery route has become a popular alternative to more conventional routes, such as oral administration, but has not yet reached its full potential (Prausnitz & Langer, 2008:1261). Although the transdermal route proves to have several advantages over the conventional route, the greatest challenge is to overcome the effective barrier of the skin (Jepps et al., 2012:153). The permeation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) through the skin is a complex, multi-step process and therefore predicting the permeability of the API is difficult (Jepps et al., 2012:153; Williams, 2003:30). Various approaches have been developed to overcome the skin barrier and it is recognised that the nature of the vehicle in which the API is applied plays a significant role in promoting transdermal delivery (Foldvari, 2000:417). It is important to consider the fate of the formulation ingredients and the API after application and how this changes the composition of the formulation on the skin when developing a vehicle for transdermal delivery (Lane et al., 2012:496; Otto et al., 2009:2). Wiechers (2012) proposed the Skin Delivery Gap (SDG) as an indicator for the permeability of an API. An API with a SDG < 1 will readily permeate the skin, whilst an SDG > 1 indicates a more complex delivery system is required. The partitioning of the API between the skin and the formulation is influenced by the formulation and by altering the formulation properties it is possible to manipulate the transdermal delivery of the API. The relative polarity index (RPI), based on the octanol-water partition coefficient (log P) of the stratum corneum, formulation and the API, was initially developed by Wiechers as a tool for developing formulations with an optimal polarity, to ensure the transdermal delivery of at least 50% of the API (Lane et al., 2012:498; Wiechers, 2008:94; Wiechers et al., 2004:174). The use of log P as an indicator of polarity was considered impractical by Hansen (2013) and acknowledged by both Wiechers and Abbott, who consequently developed the Formulating for Efficacy™ (FFE™) software which uses Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) instead of log P to indicate polarity (Hansen, 2013). The FFE™ calculates HSP distances, known as gaps, between the skin, API and the formulation to indicate the solubility of the different components in each other. A smaller HSP gap indicates a high solubility. The FFE™ enables the formulator to develop a formulation with a good balance between the active-formulation gap (AFG) and the skin-formulation gap (SFG) to ensure sufficient diffusion of the API into the skin. The FFE™ software was used to develop formulations containing 1.5% atropine as a model drug. Formulations of different polarity (optimised towards the stratum corneum, more hydrophilic and more lipophilic) were developed to determine the effect of the polarity of the formulation and the relevant HSP gaps on the transdermal delivery of the API. The same formulations were utilised for atropine sulphate to determine the effect the salt form has on the transdermal delivery of the API compared to the base compound. The log P and octanol-buffer partition coefficient (log D) of both atropine and atropine sulphate were determined. Log D is a more reliable indicator of distribution compared to log P, since, it considers the degree of ionisation of the API (Ashford, 2007:294). The log P and log D of atropine (0.22 and -1.26) and atropine sulphate (-1.32 and -1.23) both predicted poor skin penetration (Brown et al., 2005:177). The aqueous solubility of atropine (0.9 mg/ml) also predicted limited transdermal delivery, while the solubility of atropine in phosphate buffer solution (PBS pH 7.4) (5.8 mg/ml) indicated favourable permeation (Naik et al., 2000:321). The high degree of ionisation of the API (99.68 %), at pH 7.4, predicts only a small amount will penetrate the skin (Barry, 2007:576). The membrane release study confirmed the API was released from the different formulations and subsequently skin diffusion studies were conducted, followed by tape stripping after 12 h, to determine which formulation resulted in the highest transdermal delivery of the API. The atropine hydrophilic formulation released the highest percentage of API after 6 h (13.930%). This was explained by the low affinity the lipophilic atropine has towards the hydrophilic formulation (Otto et al., 2009:9). The highest percentage transdermal delivery (0.065%) was observed with the lipophilic formulation containing atropine. The higher SFG compared to the AFG of the lipophilic formulation initially predicted poor transdermal delivery, but when considering the HSP profile and molar volume of the different ingredients, it was observed the dimethyl isosorbide (DMI) penetrated and provided a desirable environment for the API in the skin. The residual formulation (containing less DMI and more polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 8) and liquid paraffin) was less desirable for the API and was therefore forced out of the formulation (Abbott, 2012:219). Both these factors contributed to the high transdermal delivery of atropine from the lipophilic formulation. The atropine sulphate hydrophilic formulation had the highest percentage in the stratum corneum-epidermis (0.29 μg/ml) and the hydrophilic formulation of both atropine and atropine sulphate had the highest concentration in the epidermis-dermis (both 0.55 μg/ml). The hydrophilic formulations had the lowest driving force provided by the AFG and the only driving force for the API to leave the formulation was the concentration gradient. These formulations had the lowest transdermal delivery which indicates the API had not fully traversed through the skin after 12 h. According to Wiechers, a minimised SFG would indicate the formulation is optimised towards the stratum corneum and should essentially deliver the highest percentage of API through the skin. The results obtained are contrary to this belief and it is concluded that the total HSP profile and the molar volume of the formulation and the API should be considered when developing a formulation with optimal transdermal delivery rather than just the SFG. / MSc (Pharmaceutics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Pharmacological treatment of Parkinson's disease involves frequent dose adjustment, complex dose regimes. Also oral antiparkinsonian drugs suffer from the first pass effect, and a variable absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. The transdermal route is an advantageous alternative, as shown by the recent commercialization of a passive patch containing rotigotine (Neupro®). In this work, transdermal iontophoretic delivery of six drugs was performed, using side-by-side diffusion cells. The best candidates for iontophoretic delivery were pramipexole, selegiline, and piribedil. Trihexyphenidyl, entacapone and pergolide are poor candidates and probably would require patches of impractical size.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

No description available.