Transcutol containing vesicles for topical delivery of minoxidil

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of Transcutol (Trc) to produce elastic vesicles with soy lecithin (SL) and study the influence of the obtained vesicles on in vitro (trans)dermal delivery of minoxidil. To this purpose, so-called penetration enhancer-containing vesicles (PEVs) were prepared using Trc aqueous solutions (5–10–20–30% v/v) as hydrophilic phase. SL liposomes, without Trc, were used as control. Prepared formulations were characterized in terms of size distribution, morphology, zeta potential, deformability, and rheological behavior. The influence of the obtained PEVs on (trans)dermal delivery of minoxidil was studied by in vitro diffusion experiments through pig skin. Results showed that all prepared PEVs were able to give good entrapment efficiency (E%≈67) similar to that of conventional liposomes. Trc-containing PEVs showed to be more deformable than liposomes only when minoxidil was loaded in 5 and 10% Trc-containing vesicles. Rheological studies showed that PEVs have higher fluidity than conventional liposomes. All PEVs showed a higher stability than liposomes as shown by studying zeta potential and size distribution during three months. Results of in vitro diffusion experiments showed that Trc-containing PEVs are able to deliver minoxidil to deep skin layers without any transdermal permeation.

Keywords::

• Liposomes
• soy lecithin
• vesicles
• rheology
• skin delivery

Acknowledgements

Authors gratefully thank Allevado (Allevatori Associati del Parteolla) soc.coop. a.r.l. for kindly supply newborn pig skin, and Mr. Salvatore Espa for technical support. This manuscript is dedicated to our beloved colleague and scientist Prof. Dr. Francisco Molina Lucas in memory of his recent death.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.