Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Jul 30. [Epub ahead of print]
A novel finasteride 0.25% topical solution for androgenetic alopecia: pharmacokinetics and effects on plasma androgen levels in healthy male volunteers.
Caserini M, Radicioni M, Leuratti C, Annoni O, Palmieri R.
Abstract
Objective: Finasteride, a selective inhibitor of type 2 5-alpha reductase isoenzyme, inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and is indicated in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia. The study objective was to evaluate a newly developed finasteride 0.25% topical solution in comparison to the marketed finasteride 1 mg tablet, with respect to finasteride pharmacokinetics and suppressive effects on plasma DHT. Methods: 24 healthy men with androgenetic alopecia were randomized in a single center, open-label, parallel-group, exploratory study, and received either multiple scalp applications of the topical solution b.i.d. or oral doses of the reference tablet o.d. for 7 days. Plasma finasteride, testosterone and DHT concentrations were determined. Results: After multiple doses, mean (± SD) finasteride Cmax and AUC00-t corresponded to 0.46 ± 0.28 ng/mL and 6.64 ± 7.50 ng/mL x h for the topical solution and to 6.86 ± 1.78 ng/mL and 57.93 ± 29.38 ng/mL x h for the tablet. Plasma DHT was reduced by ~ 68 - 75% with the topical solution and by ~ 62 - 72% with the tablet. No relevant changes occurred for plasma testosterone with either treatment. No clinically significant adverse events occurred. Conclusions: A strong and similar inhibition of plasma DHT was found after 1 week of treatment with the topical and tablet finasteride ormulations, albeit finasteride plasma exposure was significantly lower with the topical than with the oral product (p < 0.0001).
Arch Pharm Res. 2014 Aug 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Enhanced skin permeation of 5α-reductase inhibitors entrapped into surface-modified liquid crystalline nanoparticles.
Madheswaran T1, Baskaran R, Sundaramoorthy P, Yoo BK.
Author information
1College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 214-1 Dae-dong, Gyeongsan, 712-749, South Korea.
Abstract
The objective of this study is to enhance skin permeation of finasteride and dutasteride for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia using surface-modified liquid crystalline nanoparticle (sm-LCN) dispersion. LCN entrapped with the drugs was prepared by using monoolein as a liquid crystal former, and surface modification was performed by treatment of the LCN dispersion with same volume of 1 % v/v acetic acid solution containing chitosan. Physicochemical properties of the LCN's were studied with regard to particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and release of the drugs. Skin permeation of drugs entrapped into the LCN and sm-LCN was investigated with porcine abdominal skin using Franz diffusion cell. Cytotoxicity of the LCN's was also studied using human skin keratinocytes. The particle size and zeta potential of the LCN were 197.9 ± 2.5 nm and -20.2 ± 1.9 mV, respectively, and sm-LCN showed slightly bigger size and positive zeta potential due to the presence of thin coating on the surface of the nanoparticles. Compared to LCN, sm-LCN resulted in significantly enhanced skin permeation of the drugs whereas in vitro release was significantly reduced. Cell viability as a measure of cytotoxicity was above 80 % up to 20 μg/ml concentration of both LCN and sm-LCN. In conclusion, sm-LCN may provide a strategy to maximize therapeutic efficacy minimizing unwanted systemic side effects associated with the use of the drugs for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.
J Pharm Sci. 2014 Aug;103(8):2323-9. doi: 10.1002/jps.24045. Epub 2014 Jun 10.
Topical Formulations Containing Finasteride. Part II: Determination of Finasteride Penetration into Hair Follicles using the Differential Stripping Technique.
Tampucci S1, Burgalassi S, Chetoni P, Lenzi C, Pirone A, Mailland F, Caserini M, Monti D.
Author information
Abstract
The differential stripping technique consists of a tape-stripping phase followed by a cyanoacrylate biopsy. This technique not only allows the quantification of drug retained in the stratum corneum (SC) and in the hair follicles but also differentiates transepidermal from transfollicular penetration. Our study aimed at both validating the differential stripping procedure on hairless rat skin and assessing the role of the hair follicle in the cutaneous penetration of finasteride (FNS) after application of two experimental formulations for 6 or 24 h: P-08-016, a hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH)-based formulation and P-10-008, an anhydrous formulation devoid of HPCH. Microscopic and histological evaluation showed that after 15 tape strips both the SC and the viable epidermis were completely removed. A subsequent cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsy led to the removal of the infundibula content. The largest amounts of FNS were found in the epidermis and in the appendages after application of P-08-016, regardless of the time from application. In contrast, smaller and statistically significant amounts of FNS were recovered with P-10-008 6 h after application, compared with that at 24 h. In conclusion, the differential stripping technique allowed determination of the amount of FNS localized in different skin districts, focusing particularly on the follicular contribution. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 103:2323-2329, 2014.
J Pharm Sci. 2014 Aug;103(8):2307-14. doi: 10.1002/jps.24028. Epub 2014 Jun 18.
Topical formulations containing finasteride. Part I: in vitro permeation/penetration study and in vivo pharmacokinetics in hairless rat.
Monti D1, Tampucci S, Burgalassi S, Chetoni P, Lenzi C, Pirone A, Mailland F.
Author information
Abstract
In hair follicle (Hf) cells, the type-2 5-α-reductase enzyme, implicated in androgenetic alopecia, is selectively inhibited by finasteride (FNS). Because an effective topical formulation to deliver FNS to Hf is currently unavailable, this investigation aimed at evaluating in vitro FNS skin permeation and retention through and into hairless rat and human abdominal skin. Four hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH)-based formulations (P-08-012, P-08-016, P-08-063, and P-08-064) and one anhydrous formulation without HPCH (P-10-008) were tested. The pharmacokinetics in plasma and skin after application of P-08-016 or P-10-008 on dorsal rat skin with single and repeated doses was investigated. P-08-016 performed the best in driving FNS to the reticular dermis without producing a high transdermal flux. Neither the in vivo single nor the repeated dose experiments produced plasma levels of FNS and no differences were found between formulations concerning skin retention. No increase in the amount of drug retained in the skin was obtained with the repeated dose experiment. In conclusion, the HPCH-based formulation P-08-016 might represent an alternative to systemic therapy for its ability to promote a cutaneous depot of FNS in the region of hair bulbs, minimizing systemic absorption even after repeated treatments. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 103:2307-2314, 2014.
A novel finasteride 0.25% topical solution for androgenetic alopecia: pharmacokinetics and effects on plasma androgen levels in healthy male volunteers.
Caserini M, Radicioni M, Leuratti C, Annoni O, Palmieri R.
Abstract
Objective: Finasteride, a selective inhibitor of type 2 5-alpha reductase isoenzyme, inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and is indicated in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia. The study objective was to evaluate a newly developed finasteride 0.25% topical solution in comparison to the marketed finasteride 1 mg tablet, with respect to finasteride pharmacokinetics and suppressive effects on plasma DHT. Methods: 24 healthy men with androgenetic alopecia were randomized in a single center, open-label, parallel-group, exploratory study, and received either multiple scalp applications of the topical solution b.i.d. or oral doses of the reference tablet o.d. for 7 days. Plasma finasteride, testosterone and DHT concentrations were determined. Results: After multiple doses, mean (± SD) finasteride Cmax and AUC00-t corresponded to 0.46 ± 0.28 ng/mL and 6.64 ± 7.50 ng/mL x h for the topical solution and to 6.86 ± 1.78 ng/mL and 57.93 ± 29.38 ng/mL x h for the tablet. Plasma DHT was reduced by ~ 68 - 75% with the topical solution and by ~ 62 - 72% with the tablet. No relevant changes occurred for plasma testosterone with either treatment. No clinically significant adverse events occurred. Conclusions: A strong and similar inhibition of plasma DHT was found after 1 week of treatment with the topical and tablet finasteride ormulations, albeit finasteride plasma exposure was significantly lower with the topical than with the oral product (p < 0.0001).
Arch Pharm Res. 2014 Aug 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Enhanced skin permeation of 5α-reductase inhibitors entrapped into surface-modified liquid crystalline nanoparticles.
Madheswaran T1, Baskaran R, Sundaramoorthy P, Yoo BK.
Author information
1College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, 214-1 Dae-dong, Gyeongsan, 712-749, South Korea.
Abstract
The objective of this study is to enhance skin permeation of finasteride and dutasteride for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia using surface-modified liquid crystalline nanoparticle (sm-LCN) dispersion. LCN entrapped with the drugs was prepared by using monoolein as a liquid crystal former, and surface modification was performed by treatment of the LCN dispersion with same volume of 1 % v/v acetic acid solution containing chitosan. Physicochemical properties of the LCN's were studied with regard to particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and release of the drugs. Skin permeation of drugs entrapped into the LCN and sm-LCN was investigated with porcine abdominal skin using Franz diffusion cell. Cytotoxicity of the LCN's was also studied using human skin keratinocytes. The particle size and zeta potential of the LCN were 197.9 ± 2.5 nm and -20.2 ± 1.9 mV, respectively, and sm-LCN showed slightly bigger size and positive zeta potential due to the presence of thin coating on the surface of the nanoparticles. Compared to LCN, sm-LCN resulted in significantly enhanced skin permeation of the drugs whereas in vitro release was significantly reduced. Cell viability as a measure of cytotoxicity was above 80 % up to 20 μg/ml concentration of both LCN and sm-LCN. In conclusion, sm-LCN may provide a strategy to maximize therapeutic efficacy minimizing unwanted systemic side effects associated with the use of the drugs for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.
J Pharm Sci. 2014 Aug;103(8):2323-9. doi: 10.1002/jps.24045. Epub 2014 Jun 10.
Topical Formulations Containing Finasteride. Part II: Determination of Finasteride Penetration into Hair Follicles using the Differential Stripping Technique.
Tampucci S1, Burgalassi S, Chetoni P, Lenzi C, Pirone A, Mailland F, Caserini M, Monti D.
Author information
Abstract
The differential stripping technique consists of a tape-stripping phase followed by a cyanoacrylate biopsy. This technique not only allows the quantification of drug retained in the stratum corneum (SC) and in the hair follicles but also differentiates transepidermal from transfollicular penetration. Our study aimed at both validating the differential stripping procedure on hairless rat skin and assessing the role of the hair follicle in the cutaneous penetration of finasteride (FNS) after application of two experimental formulations for 6 or 24 h: P-08-016, a hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH)-based formulation and P-10-008, an anhydrous formulation devoid of HPCH. Microscopic and histological evaluation showed that after 15 tape strips both the SC and the viable epidermis were completely removed. A subsequent cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsy led to the removal of the infundibula content. The largest amounts of FNS were found in the epidermis and in the appendages after application of P-08-016, regardless of the time from application. In contrast, smaller and statistically significant amounts of FNS were recovered with P-10-008 6 h after application, compared with that at 24 h. In conclusion, the differential stripping technique allowed determination of the amount of FNS localized in different skin districts, focusing particularly on the follicular contribution. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 103:2323-2329, 2014.
J Pharm Sci. 2014 Aug;103(8):2307-14. doi: 10.1002/jps.24028. Epub 2014 Jun 18.
Topical formulations containing finasteride. Part I: in vitro permeation/penetration study and in vivo pharmacokinetics in hairless rat.
Monti D1, Tampucci S, Burgalassi S, Chetoni P, Lenzi C, Pirone A, Mailland F.
Author information
Abstract
In hair follicle (Hf) cells, the type-2 5-α-reductase enzyme, implicated in androgenetic alopecia, is selectively inhibited by finasteride (FNS). Because an effective topical formulation to deliver FNS to Hf is currently unavailable, this investigation aimed at evaluating in vitro FNS skin permeation and retention through and into hairless rat and human abdominal skin. Four hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH)-based formulations (P-08-012, P-08-016, P-08-063, and P-08-064) and one anhydrous formulation without HPCH (P-10-008) were tested. The pharmacokinetics in plasma and skin after application of P-08-016 or P-10-008 on dorsal rat skin with single and repeated doses was investigated. P-08-016 performed the best in driving FNS to the reticular dermis without producing a high transdermal flux. Neither the in vivo single nor the repeated dose experiments produced plasma levels of FNS and no differences were found between formulations concerning skin retention. No increase in the amount of drug retained in the skin was obtained with the repeated dose experiment. In conclusion, the HPCH-based formulation P-08-016 might represent an alternative to systemic therapy for its ability to promote a cutaneous depot of FNS in the region of hair bulbs, minimizing systemic absorption even after repeated treatments. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 103:2307-2314, 2014.
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