Aim: To prepare of isopropyl myristate (IPM) molecular gels and investigate of its transdermal capability.
Methods: Microstructure of IPM gels was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope (OM). The rheology and thixotropy of IPM gels were investigated by viscosity. Triptolide was used as model drug to investigate its transdermal capability.
Results: The microstructure of IPM gels was a three-dimension network formed by the aggregation of Span 60 in IPM, which was rod-like tubular aggregate. It has good rheology and thixotropy. There was a good linear correlation between the accumulative permeated amount per unit area and the time for triptolide-loaded IPM gels. The permeation process agreed with zero order pharmacokinetics. The average permeability through rat skin for triptolide was 19.26 ng x cm(-2) x h(-1), which was 2.92 times of triptolide unguents obtained commercially available.
Conclusion: Isopropyl myristate molercular gel can be formed by span 60 assemblies. Transdermal capability drug-loaded IPM gels was better than that of triptolide unguents.