Nanocomposite Gels Loaded with Flurbiprofen: Characterization and Skin Permeability Assessment in Different Skin Species
Sheimah El Bejjaji,
Gladys Ramos-Yacasi,
Joaquim Suñer-Carbó,
Mireia Mallandrich,
Lara Goršek,
Chandler Quilchez,
Ana Cristina Calpena
Affiliations
Sheimah El Bejjaji
Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Gladys Ramos-Yacasi
Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Bioquímicas y Biotecnológicas, Universidad Católica de Santa María (UCSM), Arequipa 04001, Peru
Joaquim Suñer-Carbó
Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Mireia Mallandrich
Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Lara Goršek
Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Chandler Quilchez
Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
Ana Cristina Calpena
Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Nanocomposite gels consist of nanoparticles dispersed in a gel matrix. The main aim of this work was to develop nanocomposite gels for topical delivery of Flurbiprofen (FB) for humans and farm animals. Nanocomposite gels were prepared stemming from nanoparticles (NPs) freeze-dried with two different cryoprotectants, D-(+)-trehalose (NPs-TRE) and polyethylene glycol 3350 (NPs-PEG), sterilized by gamma (γ) irradiation, and gelled with Sepigel® 305. Nanocomposite gels with FB-NPs-TRE and FB-NPs-PEG were physiochemically characterized in terms of appearance, pH, morphological studies, porosity, swelling, degradation, extensibility, and rheological behavior. The drug release profile and kinetics were assessed, as well as, the ex vivo permeation of FB was assessed in human, porcine and bovine skin. In vivo studies in healthy human volunteers were tested without FB to assess the tolerance of the gels with nanoparticles. Physicochemical studies demonstrated the suitability of the gel formulations. The ex vivo skin permeation capacity of FB-NPs nanocomposite gels with different cryoprotectants allowed us to conclude that these formulations are suitable topical delivery systems for human and veterinary medicine. However, there were statistically significant differences in the permeation of each formulation depending on the skin. Results suggested that FB-NPs-PEG nanocomposite gel was most suitable for human and porcine skin, and the FB-NPs-TRE nanocomposite gel was most suitable for bovine skin.
