Efficient Intradermal Delivery of Superoxide Dismutase Using a Combination of Liposomes and Iontophoresis for Protection against UV-Induced Skin Damage

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 781 - 785
• Main Authors: Kigasawa, Kaoru, Miyashita, Moeko, Kajimoto, Kazuaki, Kanamura, Kiyoshi, Harashima, Hideyoshi, Kogure, Kentaro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japan The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01.05.2012; Pharmaceutical Society of Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Cations; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Hair Follicle; iontophoresis; Iontophoresis - methods; liposome; Liposomes; Male; Molecular Weight; Oxidants - biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Skin - drug effects; Skin - radiation effects; Skin Absorption - drug effects; Skin Diseases - drug therapy; Skin Diseases - etiology; Skin Diseases - metabolism; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - administration & dosage; Superoxide Dismutase - pharmacology; Superoxide Dismutase - therapeutic use; transfollicular delivery; Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.35.781

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a potent antioxidant agent that protects against UV-induced skin damage. However, its high molecular weight is a significant obstacle for efficient delivery into the skin through the stratum corneum and development of antioxidant activity. Recently, we developed a non-invasive transfollicular delivery system for macromolecules using a combination of liposomes and iontophoresis, that represents promising technology for enhancing transdermal administration of charged drugs (IJP, 403, 2011, Kajimoto et al.). In this study, in rats we attempted to apply this system to intradermal delivery of SOD for preventing UV-induced skin injury. SOD encapsulating in cationic liposomes was subjected to anodal iontophoresis. After iontophoretic treatment, the liposomes were diffused widely in the viable skin layer around hair follicles. In contrast, passive diffusion failed to transport liposomes efficiently into the skin. Iontophoretic delivery of liposomes encapsulating SOD caused a marked decrease in the production of oxidative products, such as malondialdehyde, hexanoyl lysine, and 8-hydroxi-2-deoxyguanosine, in UV-irradiated skin. These findings suggested that functional SOD can be delivered into the skin using a combination of iontophoresis and a liposomal system. In conclusion, we succeeded in developing an efficient intradermal SOD delivery system, that would be useful for delivery of other macromolecules.