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Efficiency of Fatty Acids as Chemical Penetration Enhancers: Mechanisms and Structure Enhancement Relationship

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Abstract

Purpose

The present study evaluated the effects of fatty acids commonly present in cosmetic and topical formulations on permeation enhancement across human epidermal membrane (HEM) lipoidal pathway when the fatty acids saturated the SC lipid domain without cosolvents (Emax).

Methods

HEM was treated with neat fatty acids or fatty acid suspensions to determine Emax. A volatile solvent system was used to deposit fatty acids on HEM surface to compare fatty acid enhancer efficiency in topical volatile formulations with Emax. To elucidate permeation enhancement mechanism(s), estradiol (E2β) uptake into fatty acid-treated SC lipid domain was determined.

Results

Emax of fatty acids was shown to increase with their octanol solubilities and decrease with their lipophilicities, similar to our previous findings with other enhancers. Emax of solid fatty acids was shown to depend on their melting points, an important parameter to the effectiveness of the enhancers. The E2β uptake results suggest that enhancer-induced permeation enhancement across HEM is related to enhanced permeant partitioning into the SC lipid domain.

Conclusions

The results suggest Emax as a model for studying the permeation enhancement effect of the fatty acids and their structure enhancement relationship.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported in part by NIH Grant GM 063559. The authors thank Dr. Jinsong Hao for her help in the laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, 3225 Eden Avenue, Rm 136 HPB, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267-0004, USA

    Sarah A. Ibrahim & S. Kevin Li

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  1. Sarah A. Ibrahim
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  2. S. Kevin Li
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Correspondence to S. Kevin Li.

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Ibrahim, S.A., Li, S.K. Efficiency of Fatty Acids as Chemical Penetration Enhancers: Mechanisms and Structure Enhancement Relationship. Pharm Res 27, 115–125 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-009-9985-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-009-9985-0

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