Intracavity wavelength modulation of an optical parametric oscillator for coherent Raman microscopy.

We present a novel intracavity frequency modulation scheme in a tunable, picosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The OPO signal wavelength can be modulated with a depth of more than 10 nm at a rate of 38 MHz (one half its repetition rate). We discuss the design and construction of the light source and its application to the recently-developed frequency modulation coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (FM-CARS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) techniques.

Hydrolysis of a series of parabens by skin microsomes and cytosol from human and minipigs and in whole skin in short-term culture.

Parabens are esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and used as anti-microbial agents in a wide variety of toiletries, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is of interest to understand the dermal absorption and hydrolysis of parabens, and to evaluate their disposition after dermal exposure and their potential to illicit localised toxicity. The use of minipig as a surrogate model for human dermal metabolism and toxicity studies, justifies the comparison of paraben metabolism in human and minipig skin.

The distribution of esterases in the skin of the minipig.

Skin esterases serve an important pharmacological function as they can be utilised for activation of topically applied ester prodrugs. Understanding the nature of these enzymes, with respect to their role and local activity, is essential to defining the efficacy of ester prodrugs. Minipigs are used as models to study the kinetics of absorption of topically applied drugs.

Specificity of procaine and ester hydrolysis by human, minipig, and rat skin and liver.

The capacity of human, minipig, and rat skin and liver subcellular fractions to hydrolyze the anesthetic ester procaine was compared with carboxylesterase substrates 4-methylumbelliferyl-acetate, phenylvalerate, and para-nitrophenylacetate and the arylesterase substrate phenylacetate. Rates of procaine hydrolysis by minipig and human skin microsomal and cytosolic fractions were similar, with rat displaying higher activity. Loperamide inhibited procaine hydrolysis by human skin, suggesting involvement of human carboxylesterase hCE2.

Inter-individual variability in esterases in human liver.

Human liver has numerous hydrolytic enzymes involved in metabolism of endogenous and exogenous esters. Of these enzymes, carboxylesterases (EC 3.1.

Parabens inhibit human skin estrogen sulfotransferase activity: possible link to paraben estrogenic effects.

Parabens (p-hydroxybenzoate esters) are a group of widely used preservatives in topically applied cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Parabens display weak associations with the estrogen receptors in vitro or in cell based models, but do exhibit estrogenic effects in animal models. It is our hypothesis that parabens exert their estrogenic effects, in part, by elevating levels of estrogens through inhibition of estrogen sulfotransferases (SULTs) in skin.

Comparison of skin esterase activities from different species.

Purpose: Many topically applied drugs contain esters that are hydrolyzed in the skin. Minipigs have emerged as potential models of human dermatology and, in some aspects, may be superior to commonly used rat skin. The aims of this study were to evaluate the suitability of minipig and rat skin as in vitro models of human epidermal esterase activity.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the analysis of neutralizer-Carbomer and surfactant-Carbomer interactions in aqueous, hydroalcoholic, and anhydrous gel formulations.

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the polymer-surfactant and polymer-neutralizer interactions in topical aqueous, anhydrous, and hydroalcoholic gel formulations using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The gels were prepared by dispersing Carbomer (Carbopol 980) in water and ethanol for aqueous and anhydrous systems, respectively. Glycerol and propylene glycol were also added to ensure that the compositions of gels closely resembled those used in typical topical gel formulations.

The potential of Raman spectroscopy as a process analytical technique during formulations of topical gels and emulsions.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the possibility of using Raman spectroscopy as a process analytical technique (PAT) for quality control during manufacturing of topical dosage forms.

Methods: A fiber-optic Raman probe was used to monitor the formulation of pharmaceutical gel and emulsion in laboratory scale. Raman shifts of typical commercial raw materials used in topical dosage forms were measured to ascertain the potential of this technique for monitoring and analyzing topical products.

Rheological characterization of topical carbomer gels neutralized to different pH.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to perform detailed and extensive rheological characterization of rheology of carbomer (Carbopol) microgels formulated using a solvent system typically used in topical gel formulations. Solvents like glycerin and propylene glycol can alter rheology and drug delivery characteristics of topical gels owing to their different viscosities and due to the change in solvent-polymer and solvent-solvent interactions.

Methods: Aqueous gels with different pH were prepared by dissolving cross-linked Carbopol polymers in a co-solvent system comprising water, propylene glycol, and glycerol and subsequently neutralizing the carboxylic groups of the polymers with triethanolamine (TEA).

Convolution method to predict drug concentration profiles of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine following transdermal application.

The objective of this work is to predict the systemic drug concentration of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) following transdermal application in rabbits from the in vitro skin permeation data. The in vitro skin permeation was studied in Franz diffusion cells. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of TMP following transdermal application and bolus intravenous administration were carried out in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits.

The prediction of plasma and brain levels of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine following transdermal application.

The purpose of this study was to construct a pharmacokinetic (PK) model and to determine PK parameters of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) after application of TMP transdermal delivery system. Data were obtained in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats following a single dose of TMP transdermal delivery system. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 0.

Physicochemical characterization and percutaneous delivery of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine.

The objective of this work is to investigate the percutaneous permeability of 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), an active ingredient originally isolated from Ligusticum wallichii Franch. Certain physicochemical properties of TMP, including its partition coefficient and pH-solubility profile, were studied. The influence of pH on the percutaneous permeation of TMP was studied in vitro using hairless mouse skin.