Pénétration enhancer effect of sucrose laurate and Transcutol on ibuprofen

The aim of this study was to develop transdermal gel formulations for ibuprofen, which ensure good skin permeation into the deeper layers, hereby achieving effective pain and inflammation relief locally. Transcutol and a new generation surfactant, a sucrose ester, were used as penetration enhancer. Ibuprofen diffusion was investigated across synthetic membrane (in vitro), and permeation was examined through excised human epidermis (ex vivo) and hairless mice (in vivo) too. Our investigations revealed that Transcutol is an effective diffusion increaser for ibuprofen, but it could not enhance its skin permeation. However, the sucrose ester promoted skin permeation of ibuprofen 2.15 fold. From our study, it seems that it is not enough to make in vitro membrane diffusion measurements by testing newly developed transdermal preparations, but it is also indispensable to complete the examinations with ex vivo skin permeation method. Our investigations show that sucrose laurate seems to be an appropriate and effective penetration and permeation enhancer for ibuprofen.