Transdermal Penetration-enhancing Effect of a Gemini Compound with Self-assembly ｢2-(Dimethyldocosylammonio) ethyl octadecyl ethyl phosphate｣

Abstract

We investigated the transdermal penetration-enhancing effect of 2-(Dimethyldocosylammonio) ethyl octadecyl ethyl phosphate (DOEP). In recent years, several reports have shown that various kinds of vesicle-forming compounds can enhance dermal penetration of a drug. DOEP also self-assembled to form vesicles in water, thus it was expected to enhance penetration. We investigated this function using three-dimensional cultured human skin to determine the penetration-enhancing effect on both of hydrophilic (Antipyrine) and hydrophobic (Flurbiprofen) substances. DOEP has a penetration-enhancing effect for both substances, but significant difference was obtained for the hydrophilic substance only. The results of calculation analysis of transdermal permeation suggested that the function was brought about by advancing the partition parameter but not the diffusion parameter. This means that DOEP might improve migration from the test solution to the stratum corneum.