Enhanced in Vivo Delivery of 5-Fluorouracil by Ethosomal Gels in Rabbit Ear Hypertrophic Scar Model

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Yan Wo¹  Zheng Zhang²  Yixin Zhang²  Zhen Zhang⁵  Kan Wang⁶  Xiaohui Mao³  Weijie Su²  Ke Li²  Daxiang Cui⁶  Jun Chen⁴ 

[1] Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025,China; E-Mail:;Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China; E-Mails:;Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the Third People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201900, China; E-Mail:;Department of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; E-Mail:;Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China; E-Mail:;National Key Laboratory of Nano/Micro Fabrication Technology, Key Laboratory for Thin Film and Microfabrication of Ministry of Education, Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; E-Mails:

关键词: drug delivery;    ethosome;    5-fluorouracil;    gel;    hypertrophic scars penetration;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms151222786

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Applying Ethosomal Gels (EGs) in transdermal drug delivery systems has evoked considerable interest because of their good water-solubility and biocompatibility. However, there has not been an explicit description of applying EGs as a vehicle for hypertrophic scars treatment. Here, a novel transdermal EGs loaded with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU EGs) was successfully prepared and characterized. The stability assay in vitro revealed that 5-FU EGs stored for a period of 30 days at 4 ± 1 °C had a better size stability than that at 25 ± 1 °C. Furthermore, using confocal laser scanning microscopy, EGs labeled with Rhodamine 6 G penetrated into the deep dermis of the hypertrophic scar within 24 h in the rabbit ear hypertrophic model suggested that the EGs were an optional delivery carrier through scar tissues. In addition, the value of the Scar Elevation Index (SEI) of 5-FU EGs group in the rabbit ear scar model was lower than that of 5-FU Phosphate Buffered Saline gel and Control groups. To conclude, these results suggest that EGs delivery system loaded 5-fluorouracil is a perfect candidate drug for hypertrophic scars therapy in future.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.