Evaluation of progesterone permeability from supercritical fluid processed dispersion systems.

The aim of this study was to investigate the permeability of unique dispersion systems prepared by supercritical fluid (SCF) processing, to deliver bioidentical progesterone (PGN) across mouse skin. Semisolid dispersions of PGN were made up of either polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400/4000, Gelucire 44/14, d-α-tocopheryl PEG 1000 succinate (TPGS), tanscutol P or myritol 318. SCF dispersion systems were compared with various control formulations; a market cream, aqueous suspension, and three conventionally prepared dispersions – comelted, cosolvent and physically mixed systems. The permeability coefficient in the absence or presence of a permeation enhancer was evaluated using ex vivo mouse skin. The permeation study results for the TPGS/myritol/transcutol P dispersion system prepared using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) had a two-fold improvement in transdermal permeation over 24 h compared to the control formulation, 245.7 and 126 µg cm(-2), respectively (p value < 0.05). In this study, the skin integrity and morphology was also investigated for changes due to the formulation constituents using histological examination and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The particles from the gas-saturated suspension method and SC-CO2 together with TPGS/myritol/transcutol P may offer potential advantages over the available cream on the market based on the vastly improved lag time and flux of PGN across the skin.