Enhanced Percutaneous Delivery of Methotrexate Using Micelles Prepared with Novel Cationic Amphipathic Material

Abstract

Yun-Chun Zhao,1 Hai-Li Zheng,2 Xiao-Rong Wang,1 Xiao-Ling Zheng,1 Yue Chen,1 Wei-Dong Fei,1 Yong-Quan Zheng,1 Wen-Xi Wang,2 Cai-Hong Zheng1 1Pharmacy Department, Zhejiang University, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Cai-Hong ZhengZhejiang University, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou 310006, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [email protected] WangCollege of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou 310014, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [email protected]: Methotrexate (MTX) is an antiproliferative drug widely used to treat inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases. The application of percutaneous administration is hindered due to its poor transdermal penetration. To reduce side effects and enhanced percutaneous delivery of MTX, novel methotrexate (MTX)-loaded micelles prepared with a amphiphilic cationic material, N,N-dimethyl-(N′,N′-di-stearoyl-1-ethyl)1,3-diaminopropane (DMSAP), was designed.Materials and Methods: DMSAP was synthesized via three steps using simple chemical agents. H nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy were used to confirm the successful synthesis of DMSAP. A safe and non-toxic phosphatidylcholine, soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC), was added to DMSAP at different ratios to form P/D-micelles. Then, MTX-entrapped micelles (M/P/D-micelles) were prepared by electrostatic adsorption. The physicochemical properties and blood stability of micelles were examined thoroughly. In addition, the transdermal potential of the micelles was evaluated by permeation experiments.Results: In aqueous environments, DMSAP conjugates could self-assemble spontaneously into micelles with a low critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.056 mg/mL. Stable, spherical MTX-entrapped micelles (M/P/D-micelles) with a size of 100– 120 nm and high zeta potential of +36.26 mV were prepared. In vitro permeation studies showed that M/P/D-micelles exhibited superior skin permeability and deposition of MTX in the epidermis and dermis compared with that of free MTX.Conclusion: These special novel cationic M/P/D-micelles can enhance the permeability of MTX and are expected to be a promising percutaneous delivery system for therapy skin diseases.Keywords: N N-dimethyl-(N′ N′-di-stearoyl-1-ethyl)1, 3-diaminopropane, methotrexate, micelle, percutaneous delivery

Keywords

• n
• n-dimethyl-(n′
• n′-di-stearoyl-1-ethyl)1
• 3-diaminopropane
• methotrexate
• micelle
• percutaneous delivery