LAUSR

BACKGROUND Skin delivery and transdermal delivery are key ambitions of the pharmaceutical and cosmetically researchers. AIM The study aimed to chemically modify well-known polymeric gelling agents in order to boost their topical suitability by fostering their dermal adhesiveness. METHODS Conventional chitosan was modified via amide bound formation with sulfhydryl compound thioglycolic acid. Subsequently, preactivated chitosan conjugate was established by preactivation of chitosan-thioglycolic acid with mercaptonicotinamide being covalently attached via disulfide bond linkage. All conjugates were examined due to their dermal adhesiveness and controlled drug release properties. RESULTS Preactivated chitosan conjugates Exhibit 7.46-fold dermal adhesiveness on skin due to tensile adhesion strength. Furthermore a 1.9-fold controlled release of Rhodamine123 as model drug was determined in comparison to unmodified chitosan. CONCLUSION Taken together, preactivated chitosan gels show a promising platform for topical application.