Hollow Copper Sulfide Nanoparticle-Mediated Transdermal Drug Delivery

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 8; no. 20; pp. 3143 - 3150
• Main Authors: Ramadan, Samy, Guo, Liangran, Li, Yajuan, Yan, Bingfang, Lu, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 22.10.2012; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Copper - chemistry; drug delivery; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Female; Laser Therapy; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; nanoparticle; near-infrared laser; photothermal ablation; Skin - drug effects; Skin - metabolism; Skin Absorption; transdermal
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201200783

A photothermal ablation‐enhanced transdermal drug delivery methodology is developed based on hollow copper sulfide nanoparticles (HCuSNPs) with intense photothermal coupling effects. Application of nanosecond‐pulsed near‐infrared laser allows rapid heating of the nanoparticles and instantaneous heat conduction. This provides very short periods of time but extremely high temperatures in local regions, with focused thermal ablation of the stratum corneum. The depth of skin perforations can be controlled by adjusting the laser power. Skin disruption by HCuSNP‐mediated photothermal ablation significantly increases the permeability of human growth hormone. This technique offers compelling opportunities for macromolecular drug and vaccine delivery. A transdermal delivery methodology mediated by hollow CuS nanoparticles is based on the near‐infrared (NIR) laser‐activated photothermal effect which can ablate the skin barrier, the stratum corneum. The applied nanosecond‐pulsed NIR laser provides very short periods of time but extremely high temperatures in local regions, with focused thermal ablation of the stratum corneum. This technique enables highly efficient delivery of macromolecular drugs.