TITLE:
Acyclovir-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: A Permeation and Penetrability Study
AUTHORS:
Anyoli Taly, Adriana Camino, Cirana Rodriguez, Evelyn Pena, Alfredo Inatti, Xenon Serrano
KEYWORDS:
Herpes, Acyclovir, Solid Lipid Nanoparticles, Franz Cells, Tape Stripping
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.12 No.10,
October
24,
2024
ABSTRACT: Herpes simplex virus type I is a cutaneous infection treated with acyclovir. The topical treatment has therapeutic challenges due to the deficient delivery of the drug through epithelial barriers. This results in an inadequate drug-virus interaction in the basal epidermis (virus replication site). For this reason, it is essential to generate drug carrier systems that overcome these limitations. In this study, we evaluated the permeation (through in vitro test Franz cells) and penetration (by ex vivo test Tape Stripping) of a topical formulation of acyclovir loaded in solid lipid nanoparticles and a conventional formulation (Aciclor®). The acyclovir solid lipid nanoparticles were prepared using hot homogenization and sonication methods. The results yielded a particle size of 85 ± 2 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.24 ± 0.01, a zeta potential of −16 ± 2 mV, and 94% ± 3% of encapsulated drug. The in vitro test revealed that the permeability of acyclovir solid lipid nanoparticles formulation was superior compared to reference formulation, with values of 1473.74 ± 30.14 µg/cm2 for the solid lipid nanoparticles and 893.36 ± 38.09 µg/cm2 for the reference formulation. The ex vivo test demonstrated that acyclovir solid lipid nanoparticles exhibited superior penetrability through the stratum corneum compared to the reference formulation, with total amounts of 3767 µg for the solid lipid nanoparticles and 2162 µg for the reference formulation. These findings seem promising in advancing new effective therapies against herpes generated by herpes simplex virus type I.