Enhanced transdermal delivery of indomethacin using combination of PLGA nanoparticles and iontophoresis in vivo

Nanoparticles effectively deliver therapeutic agent by penetrating into the rat skin in vivo. Indomethacin (IM) and coumarin-6 were loaded in PLGA nanoparticles with an average diameter of 100 nm. Indomethacin (IM) and coumarin-6 were chosen as a model drug and as a fluorescent marker, respectively. The surfaces of the nanoparticles were negatively charged. Permeability of IM-loaded PLGA nanoparticles through rat skin was studied in vivo. Higher amount of IM was delivered through skin when IM was loaded in nanoparticles than IM was free molecules. Also, iontophoresis was applied to enhance the permeability of nanoparticles. When iontophoresis was applied at 0.05 mA/cm2, permeability of IM was much higher than that obtained by simple diffusion of nanoparticles through skin.The combination of charged nanoparticle system with iontophoresis is useful for effective transdermal systemic delivery of therapeutic agents.

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► Indomethacin/PLGA nanoparticles delivered indomethacin after 6 h to skin, muscle and blood.
► Indomethacin/PLGA nanoparticles efficiently delivered indomethacin to blood by the combination with iontophoresis.
► Accumulation of indomethacin and coumarin-6/PLGA nanoparticles was observed in follicles and epidermis by applying iontophoresis.