Amphiphilic poly{[α-maleic anhydride-ω-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)]-co-(ethyl cyanoacrylate)} graft copolymer nanoparticles as carriers for transdermal drug delivery

Original Research

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Authors: Jinfeng Xing, Liandong Deng, Jun Li, et al. 

Published Date October 2009 Volume 2009:4 Pages 227 - 232

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S7814

Jinfeng Xing, Liandong Deng, Jun Li, Anjie Dong

Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China

Abstract: In this study, the transdermal drug delivery properties of D,L-tetrahydropalmatine (THP)-loaded amphiphilic poly{[α-maleic anhydride-ω-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)]-co-(ethyl cyanoacrylate)} (PEGECA) graft copolymer nanoparticles (PEGECAT NPs) were evaluated by skin penetration experiments in vitro. The transdermal permeation experiments in vitro were carried out in Franz diffusion cells using THP-loaded PEGECAT NPs as the donor system. Transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the receptor fluid. The results indicate that the THP-loaded PEGECAT NPs are able to penetrate the rat skin. Fluorescent microscopy measurements demonstrate that THP-loaded PEGECAT NPs can penetrate the skin not only via appendage routes but also via epidermal routes. This nanotechnology has potential application in transdermal drug delivery.

Keywords: poly{[α-maleic anhydride-ω-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)]-co-(ethyl cyanoacrylate)}, nanoparticles, transdermal drug delivery, D,L-tetrahydropalmatine