Enhanced topical and transdermal delivery of antineoplastic and antiviral acyclic nucleoside phosphonate cPr-PMEDAP.

Purpose: Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates possess unique antiviral and antineoplastic activities; however, their polar phosphonate moiety is associated with low ability to cross biological membranes. We explored the potential of transdermal and topical delivery of 2,6-diaminopurine derivative cPr-PMEDAP.

Methods: In vitro diffusion of cPr-PMEDAP was investigated using formulations at different pH and concentration and with permeation enhancer through porcine and human skin.

Results: Ability of 0.1-5% cPr-PMEDAP to cross human skin barrier was very low with flux values ~40 ng/cm(2)/h, the majority of compound found in the stratum corneum. The highest permeation rates were found at pH 6; increased donor concentration had no influence. The permeation enhancer dodecyl 6-dimethylaminohexanoate (DDAK, 1%) increased flux of cPr-PMEDAP (up to 61 times) and its concentration in nucleated epidermis (up to ~0.5 mg of cPr-PMEDAP/g of the tissue). No deamination of cPr-PMEDAP into PMEG occurred during permeation studies, but N-dealkylation into PMEDAP mediated by skin microflora was observed.

Conclusions: Transdermal or topical application of cPr-PMEDAP enabled by the permeation enhancer DDAK may provide an attractive alternative route of administration of this potent antitumor and antiviral compound.