Biopharmaceutics Transdermal 1 Flashcards
Parenteral drug delivery is any route other than…
GIT
This includes pulmonary, nasal, injection and transdermal
Parenteral drug delivery systems represent what fraction of all formulations on the market?
2/3
What is percutaneous drug delivery?
Through the skin i.e. injections
What is transdermal drug delivery?
Through unbroken skin, does not include injections
What are some of the advantages of parenteral drug delivery? (7)
Improved control of onset of action, serum levels, tissue concentration and elimination
Rapid action
Enhanced efficacy via local delivery or for drugs that cannot be formulated for oral admin
Ease of use
Increased compliance
Local/targeted delivery
Fall back route
What is one disadvantage of parenteral drug delivery?
Absorbance is still hampered by poor and/or variable blood flow
Why is transdermal delivery limited?
Due to the significant barrier to penetration across the skin, primarily associated with the stratum corneum (SC)
What is a typical daily dose that can be administered from a transdermal patch?
5-25mg
What does the typical daily dose indicate?
This route is only appropriate for potent drugs
How is maximal penetration of the SC achieved?
Choice of drug and formulation of delivery vehicle
Modification of the SC
Powered penetration enhancement devices
How can choice of drug and formulation of delivery vehicle be manipulated to achieve maximal SC penetration?
By choosing a very permeable drug or formulating that drug with excipients which make it more permeable
How can the SC be modified to achieve maximal penetration?
Include excipients that disrupt or damage the SC
What are powered penetration enhancement devices?
Use an electric current or sound wave to enhance penetration of drug through the outer skin barrier
How do powered penetration enhancement devices work? (3)
Iontophoresis
Phonophoresis
Electroporation
What are the 3 transdermal penetration routes?
Directly across the SC
Through the sweat ducts
Via hair follicles and sebaceous glands
Which of these 3 penetration routes is the most important?
The majority of skin penetration enhancement is focused on increasing transport across SC
The other routes comprise a very small s.a. (~0.1%) for penetration so do not contribute to the steady state flux of most drugs
Which penetration route is associated with iontophoretic drug delivery?
Uses an electric current
Primarily via sweat ducts, hair follicles and sebaceous glands as these offer the least electrical resistance
How can the structure of the SC be described?
Brick and mortar-like
Explain this description (B+M).
The bricks are 10-15 layers of keratin-rich corneocyte cells which are 0.2-1.5μm thick and 34-36μm in diameter (these cells are dead and in the process of being removed)
The mortar is an intercellular lipid matrix, extruded by keratinocytes and including long chain ceramides, free FA’s, triglycerides, cholesterol, cholesterol sulfate and sterol/wax esters
How thick is the SC?
10-15μm (dry) to 40μm (hydrated)
What is the function of keratin?
Gives the skin strength
Does the extruded lipid behaviour of the SC differ to that of a biomembrane?
Yes, biomembrane is primarily made up of phospholipids
How is the intercellular lipid matrix arranged?
Hydrocarbon chains are arranged into crystalline, lamellar gel and lamellar liquid crystal phase domains within the lipid bilayer
First few layers rearrange into broad intercellular lipid lamellae
What is the role of water in transdermal delivery?
Water is essential as a plasticiser in promoting transdermal drug delivery to prevent cracking of the SC and to maintain suppleness
What can happen to both drugs and excipients in the skin?
Hydrolysed by enzymes e.g. esterases, which can affect absorption
Hydrolysis of drugs and excipients may…
Inactivate drugs (decrease absorption) or activate a prodrug (increase absorption)
What are the 2 routes of skin penetration?
Intercellular
Transcellular