Enhanced topical delivery and anti-inflammatory activity of methotrexate from an activated nanogel.

This work examined the effect of sodium carbonate (Na(2)CO(3)) on the topical delivery of methotrexate (MTX) from a loaded nanogel in vitro and the modulation of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in skin ex vivo. A nanogel based on co-polymerised N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and butylacrylate (BA) was synthesized, characterized and loaded with MTX. Finite doses were then applied to excised porcine epidermal membranes mounted in Franz diffusion cells, followed by the addition of saturated aqueous Na(2)CO(3).