PAMAM dendrimers as mediators of dermal and transdermal drug delivery: a review

Kirkby, Melissa; Sabri, Akmal Hidayat Bin; Holmes, Amy; Moss, Gary P J; Scurr, David

Abstract

Objectives
Poly(amidoamine) dendrimers have been widely investigated as potential nanomaterials that can enhance the skin permeation of topically applied drugs. This article reviews the studies that have used dendrimers as penetration enhancers and examines the mechanisms by which enhancement is claimed.

Key findings
A wide range of studies have demonstrated that, in certain circumstances and for certain drugs, the incorporation of dendrimers into a topically applied formulation can significantly increase the amount of drug passing into and through the skin. In some cases, dendrimers offered little or no enhancement of skin permeation, suggesting that the drug-dendrimer interaction and the selection of a specific dendrimer were central to ensuring optimal enhancement of skin permeation. Significant interactions between dendrimers and other formulation components were also reported in some cases.

Summary
Dendrimers offer substantial potential for enhancing drug delivery into and across the skin, putatively by mechanisms that include occlusion and changes to surface tension. However, most of these studies are conducted in vitro and limited progress has been made beyond such laboratory studies, some of which are conducted using membranes of limited relevance to humans, such as rodent skin. Thus, the outcomes and claims of such studies should be treated with caution.

Citation

Kirkby, M., Sabri, A. H. B., Holmes, A., Moss, G. P. J., & Scurr, D. (in press). PAMAM dendrimers as mediators of dermal and transdermal drug delivery: a review. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 76(10), 1284–1300. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpp/rgae080

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 3, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 23, 2024
• Deposit Date: Aug 5, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
• Electronic ISSN: 2042-7158
• Publisher: David Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 76
• Issue: 10
• Article Number: rgae080
• Pages: 1284–1300
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jpp/rgae080
• Keywords: PAMAM-dendrimers, penetration enhancement, drug delivery, dermal deposition, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS)
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/881880