Topical preperations Matt Ivory Flashcards
How can the skin be damaged?
Mechanically
Chemically
Biologically
Via radiation
Whta are the different skin applications?
- Manipulate the barrier - protection and treat infection
- Local treatment - anti-inflammatory, Sympotmatic relief
- Systematic - Transdermal drug delivery
NSAIDs - IBUGEL, motion sikness, angina
WHat are the different layers of skin that can act as drug targets?
1) Skin surface
2) Stratum Corneum
3) Skin appendages
4) Viable epidermis/dermis
5) systemic delivery
How does the skin surface act as a drug target?
Barrier cream will sit on top of the skin as a protective skin layer.
How does the stratum corneum act as a drug target?
Drug is delivered into the shallow stratum coreum affecting cells deeper in the skin e.g. keratinocytes
How does the SKin appendages act as drug target?
Affects the things attached underneath the skin e.g. hair follicles and sweat glands. This is shunt delivery (through a small passage)
e.g. Acne medication
How does the vaible epidermis/dermis act as a drug target?
Deliver the drug underneath the skin surface but not systemic e.g. steroids, and anti-pruritic drugs.
How does systemic delivery happen via the skin?
The drug is delivered beond the skin layers and into the blood e.g. nicottine patches.
What are the factors affecting delivery?
Skin age - older gets less elastic
Skin condition - non-healthy skin is comprimised
Region - some regions of skin are thicker or thinner than others, hairy or not etc
Skin metabolism - enzymes that break down active ingregients
Species.
What is a licenced medicine?
A medicine rigorously tested for quality, saftey and efficacy. They’re made in very large batches and is the cheapest option
What are special medicines?
These are made by manufacturer at request of pharmacy or doctor only. They are tested for quality only. Made in much smaller bacthes and are more expensive.
WHat are extemporaneously prepared medicines?
These have NO EVIDENCE OR ANY TESTING FOR SAFTEY OR QUALITY. Involves the mixing of two medicines in the pharmacy itself. SHoulnot be used unless completely neccessary. VERY expensive.
What is the purpose of Semi-solid preparations as topical preparations?
Semi-solids for cutaneous application are intended for local or transdermal delivery of active substances, or for their emollient or protective action.
What do we know about the formulation of a semi-solid formulation:
Often needs a complex multi-phase system to allow for number of effects- usability, absorption, sympomatic relief, emollient action etc.
Any vehicle added as an exipient must have a pharmacological benefit or not cause further damage.
The whole formulation must be compatible with patient
What are the different types of semi-solid preparations?
Ointments, pastes, gels, creams etc
OINTMENTS:
soft, semi-solid preperation.
Very basic
Single-phase base which solids or liquids may be dispersed
Emollient action:
Too oily to be absorbed throught he skin, so is a BARRIER cream to prevent things getting in, and also some prevent water loss
WHat ar ethe types of Ointments?
Hydrophobic (occlusive) - very oily to prevent water loss e.g. calamine lotion Water emulsifying (occlusive) e.g. wool alcohol ointment Hydrophilic (non-occlussive) less oily, doesn't prevent water loss e.g. Macrogol BP
If the skin isn’t dehydrated, what emollient is likely to be used?
Macrogol BP - non-occlusive doesnt prevent water loss.
What are the different types of ointment bases available?
Hydrocarbons Fats and fixed oils Silicones Absorption bases Emulsifying bases Water-soluble bases
What are hydrocarbons:
hard, soft and liquid PARAFFINS
These are the most widely used.
They form a greasy film on the skin reducing moisture loss and improving hydration.
Stable and relatively inert
WHat is the caustion with Hydrocarbons?
Paraffin is a Fire Hazard- don’t be near open flame with ointment on skin.
What are FAts and Fixed oils?
Natural Sources, Vegetable origin, Mixture of saturated and unsaturated fats
Not as stable as hydrocarbons.
These are occlusive and sticky
What are the issues with Fats and fixed oils?
Natural sources therefore batch variability.
Vegtable origin - issues with peanut allergies
Not as stable as hydrocarbons therefore can decompose on exposure to air, light and increased temp. Exposure to these will cause rancidity.
What are silicone bases?
These are water repellant - hydrophobic therefore occlusive. Used in barrier creams against water-soluble irritants.
What are adsorption bases?
These soak up water to form w/o emulsions, are occlusive but not as strong as hydrocarbons therefore some water can leave the skin, while also drawing water into itself to hydrate the stratum corneum.
What Are emulsifying bases?
Anionic, cationic, nonionic o/w emulsions.
Contain surfactants to help spreading by lowering the surface tension between liquid and solid.
These mix well with water and are therefore useful soap substitutes.
What are water soluble bases?
These are prepared from Polyethylene Glycols.
Suitable combinations provide ointment-like consistensy,
non-occlusive so water can leave the skin.
Used often with lignocaine, but incompatible with many chemicals.
Useful to incorporate drugs dissolved in water.
With the water soluble bases, how does the MW of the base affect the formulation?
High MW polythylene Glycol will be MORE viscous
Low MW polythylene Glycol will be LESS viscous
Depends on chain-length and tangling.
What is the first step in preparing ointments if the ingredients are INSOLUBLE?
The insoluble ingredients must be finely ground to a powder consistensy and then incorporated into the base by geometric dilution.