Transdermal Drug Delivery

Transdermal Drug Delivery

Anti-inflammatory agents are widely used to treat various inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma. However, the systemic administration of these drugs often leads to unwanted side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding, renal toxicity, and immunosuppression. Therefore, the targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs using dendrimers can potentially minimize the side effects and improve the therapeutic efficacy.

Introduction into Transdermal Drug Delivery

Enhancement strategies for transdermal drug delivery systems. (Ramadon D, et al., 2022)

The skin is composed of several layers, including the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. The outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, acts as a barrier to prevent the entry of foreign substances into the body. Therefore, the development of transdermal drug delivery systems requires the design of drug formulations that can penetrate through the stratum corneum and reach the underlying skin layers and systemic circulation. Transdermal drug delivery has been used for the delivery of various drugs, including hormones, analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, and cardiovascular drugs. It has also been used for the delivery of vaccines and for the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases through the detection of biomarkers in the skin. The main advantage of transdermal administration over other routes of administration (including oral and intravenous routes) is that it avoids first-pass metabolism and provides sustained release of the drug, which can improve patient compliance and reduce the frequency of administration.

Advantages of Dendrimers for Transdermal Drug Delivery

Several studies have reported the use of dendrimers for transdermal delivery of various drugs, including anticancer drugs, antimicrobial agents, and anti-inflammatory drugs. For instance, dendrimers loaded with ibuprofen have been shown to penetrate the skin and achieve a sustained release of the drug, providing effective pain relief in animal models. Dendrimers have the following advantages when used as transdermal drug delivery systems.

• Improving drug solubility and permeability in the skin
  Dendrimers can be used for transdermal drug delivery by encapsulating drugs within their interior or by attaching drugs to their surface. In addition, dendrimers can be functionalized with various hydrophilic or hydrophobic groups to improve their solubility and permeability through the skin.
• Overcoming the skin barrier
  One of the main advantages of dendrimers for transdermal drug delivery is their ability to overcome the skin barrier, which is the main obstacle for the passive diffusion of drugs through the skin. The skin is composed of several layers, including the stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer and acts as a barrier to prevent the entry of foreign substances into the body. Dendrimers can penetrate through the stratum corneum due to their small size and highly branched structure, which allows them to interact with the skin lipids and disrupt the skin barrier.
• Delivery of imaging agents
  In addition to drug delivery, dendrimers have also been explored for the delivery of imaging agents, such as fluorescent dyes and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, for skin imaging and diagnosis of skin diseases.

As a fast-growing custom service provider specializing in dendrimer research, CD BioSciences is dedicated to helping you develop dendrimers for transdermal drug delivery.

Skin penetration pathways for dendrimers. (Dave K, et al., 2017)

How We Can Help

With expertise in organic chemistry and extensive experience in dendrimer development, CD BioSciences is committed to providing innovative dendrimer products and customized services to better meet the research needs of passionate researchers worldwide. If you are interested in our products or services or have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us.

References

1. Ramadon D.; et al. Enhancement strategies for transdermal drug delivery systems: current trends and applications. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2022, 12: 758-791.
2. Dave K.; et al. Dendritic polymers for dermal drug delivery. Ther Deliv. 2017, 8: 1077-1096.