LAUSR

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on choline chloride (C) and l-(+)-tartaric acid diethyl ester (L) were prepared and used in transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS). The internal chemistry structure including the formation and changes of hydrogen bonds of choline chloride and l-(+)-tartaric acid diethyl ester DES was characterized via attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The stoichiometric ratio of choline chloride to l-(+)-tartaric acid diethyl ester as well as water content affected the viscosity, glass transition temperature (Tg), and drug solubility of the DES. The viscosity and glass transition temperature of the DES (CL14) prepared at the ratio of 1:4 of choline chloride to l-(+)-tartaric acid diethyl ester were 1.19 Pa·s and − 44.01°C, respectively, and decreased to 0.10 Pa·s and − 55.31°C when 10% water (CL1410) was added. Taking diclofenac diethylamine (DDEA), the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug as model, drug solubility was as high as 60 mg/ml and 250 mg/ml in CL14 and CL1410, respectively. The cumulative amount of DDEA was 4.63 ± 2.67 μg/cm2 and 15.27 ± 4.63 μg/cm2 for CL14 and CL1410, respectively, at 8 h. The mechanism of percutaneous permeability by the DES may be the disturbance of stratum corneum (SC) lipids as well as changes in the protein conformations. CL14 and CL1410 were also verified as low-cytotoxic and nonirritant. Therefore, the DESs studied are promising to be used in drug solubilization enhancement and transdermal drug delivery system.