Effect of ionization and vehicle on skin absorption and penetration of azelaic acid

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ionization and vehicle of topical formulations on skin absorption and penetration of azelaic acid (AZA).

Materials and methods: In vitro transport of AZA was determined for two topical formulations containing AZA with pH values of 3.9 and 4.9, respectively. FINACEA^® (15% AZA gel), a US Food and Drug Administration approved drug for treatment of acne and rosacea, was also used for comparison. Release profile and flux of AZA were determined in an in vitro hairless mouse skin model using Franz Diffusion Cell.

Results: The data have shown that a higher concentration of AZA is retained in the epidermis/dermis layer and the whole skin for the formulation with pH = 4.9 as compared to that with pH = 3.9 at an active loading level of 2.82 mg/cm². In addition, the flux of ionized species of AZA in the pH 4.9 formulation (128.4 ± 35.9 μg/cm²/h) is approximately five-fold greater than that in the pH 3.9 formulation (27.7 ± 4.0 μg/cm²/h). The results suggest that the ionized AZA penetrates through the skin and accounts for majority of the total flux.

Discussion and conclusion: This study has demonstrated that the penetration and absorption of AZA show a strong pH- and vehicle-dependency. Solubilization is the rate-limiting step in percutaneous absorption of AZA.

Keywords::

• Azelaic acid
• ionization
• pH dependent
• percutaneous absorption
• vehicle effect

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Wayne Xue (Gaithersburg, MD) for insightful discussions about dermatological aspects of azelaic acid and FINACEA sample.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.