Polymeric Gels As A Means Of Controlling Local Skin Delivery

Abstract

Skin Cancer is the most common cancer. While most forms of skin cancer have high survival rates if they are caught early, some can metastasize and are very difficult to treat once this happens. Inhibition of Matrix Metallopeptidases (MMPs), can be effective in preventing growth and metastasis of existing tumors. For this reason, they may be especially useful in the treatment of skin cancers as they may prevent metastasis.  Systemic delivery of MMPIs can cause unwanted side effects, so localized delivery is preferable. By incorporating MMP inhibitors into polymer gels, the drug can be administered topically and its distribution within the skin and into the systemic circulation may be controlled. 

Polymers were formulated to contain a model MMP inhibitor and applied to human skin samples using a high throughput skin permeation screening method. After the permeation study was run, samples were removed and the concentration of the drug that crossed the skin was quantified using High Performance Liquid Chromatography 

HPLC analysis showed that all of the tested formulations permeated across or were retained in the skin at varying degrees. Further, some differences between the polymers, as well as between the same polymers with altered concentrations of cross-linking agents, were statistically significant.

Polymeric gels are shown to be a viable method of delivering MMP inhibitors topically. Due the permeation enhancing effects of different polymers and the effects of various concentrations of cross-linking agents, Formulations could be customized to penetrate the entire tumor, without entering the blood stream and causing systemic effects.