Characteristics and application of cutaneous spray preparations in dermal and transdermal drug delivery

Abstract

Liquid spray preparations for cutaneous administration are solutions, suspensions or emulsions that use compressed or converted gas to a liquid state, to disperse the active substance in the form of aerosols or they are propellant-free (not pressurized) pumps and can also disperse the active substance in the form of aerosols. The paper presents data from professional regulations and relevant literature related to dosage forms, characteristics and composition of cutaneous sprays, and on inner packaging (containers and pump/valve systems and sprays), which is their main specificity. They are most commonly formulated as cutaneous spray, solution, for local administration of antimicrobials, or for regional delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and transdermal delivery of hormones. In the development of transdermal sprays, great attention is paid to strategies for improving the drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy (e.g., by using permeation enhancers, colloidal carriers). Equally important is design of inner packaging that should ensure preservation of drug quality, but also precise and reproductive dosing according to the individual therapeutic needs of patients, which, with simple application, good tolerance and satisfactory aesthetic properties, is a significant advantage of cutaneous sprays compared to other liquid and semisolid preparations for cutaneous administration as well as transdermal patches.

Keywords

• liquid spray preparations for cutaneous administration
• cutaneous spray
• solution
• metered dose transdermal spray (mdts)
• individualization of therapy