Purpose: As trisodium L-ascorbyl 2-phosphate 6-palmitate (APPS), an ascorbic acid derivative, is an amphiphilic substance, it forms micelles in aqueous solutions. Micelles are used as drug carriers and can emulsify drugs that are poorly soluble in water, such as nadifloxacin (NDFX). The purpose of this study was to prepare nanocarriers using APPS to carry NDFX into Yucatan micropig skin.
Methods: After synthesis of the NDFX nanoparticles by using the hydration method, physical evaluations were carried out that included assessments of particle size and zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, particle structure by transmission electron microscopy, 31P-NMR spectra, and particle stability. Functional evaluations of the nanoparticles included 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays, skin penetration tests, and fluorescence microscopy observations.
Results: The encapsulation efficiency of NDFX in the nanoparticles was approximately 75%. With added magnesium chloride, the nanoparticles remained stably dispersed in aqueous solution for at least 14 days at 25°C under protection from light. In addition, the nanoparticle formulation improved the skin permeability of NDFX.
Conclusion: APPS-derived nanoparticles were shown to be useful as skin-targeting nanocarriers.
Keywords: ascorbic acid derivative; nadifloxacin; nanoparticle; nicelle; skin permeation.