Liquid Crystal Nanodispersions Enable the Cutaneous Delivery of Photosensitizer for Topical PDT: Fluorescence Microscopy Study of Skin Penetration

Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been applied to almost all types of nonmelanoma skin cancer and numerous superficial benign skin disorders. Strategies to improve the accumulation of photosensitizer in the skin have been studied in recent years. Although the hydrophilic phthalocyanine zinc compound, zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (ZnPcSO4) has shown high photodynamic efficiency and reduced phototoxic side effects in the treatment of brain tumors and eye conditions, its use in topical skin treatment is currently limited by its poor skin penetration. In this study, nanodispersions of monoolein (MO)-based liquid crystalline phases were studied for their ability to increase ZnPcSO4 uptake by the skin. Lamellar, hexagonal and cubic crystalline phases were prepared and identified by polarizing light microscopy, and the nanodispersions were analyzed by dynamic light scattering. In vitro skin penetration studies were performed using a Franz's cell apparatus, and the skin uptake was evaluated in vivo in hairless mice. Aqueous dispersions of cubic and hexagonal phases showed particles of nanometer size, approximately 224 +/- 10 nm and 188 +/- 10 nm, respectively. In vitro skin retention experiments revealed higher fluorescence from the ZnPcSO4 in deeper skin layers when this photosensitizer was loaded in the hexagonal nanodispersion system when compared to both the cubic phase nanoparticles and the bulk crystalline phases (lamellar, cubic and hexagonal). The hexagonal nanodispersion showed a similar penetration behavior in animal tests. These results are important findings, suggesting the development of MO liquid crystal nanodispersions as potential delivery systems to enhance the efficacy of topical PDT.

A VALIDATED HPLC ANALYTICAL METHOD FOR THE ANALYSIS OF SOLASONINE AND SOLAMARGINE IN IN VITRO SKIN PENETRATION STUDIES

To assess topical delivery studies of glycoalkaloids, an analytical method by HPLC-UV was developed and validated for the determination of solasonine (SN) and solamargine (SM) in different skin layers, as well as in a topical formulation. The method was linear within the ranges 0.86 to 990.00 mu g/mL for SN and 1.74 to 1000.00 mu g/mL for SM (r = 0.9996). Moreover, the recoveries for both glycoalkaloids were higher than 88.94 and 93.23% from skin samples and topical formulation, respectively. The method developed is reliable and suitable for topical delivery skin studies and for determining the content of SN and SM in topical formulations.

SELF-REPORTED URINARY INCONTINENCE IN THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD: CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to characterize the manifestations of self-reported urinary incontinence in the postpartum period. We interviewed 288 women who were clients of a teaching health center in Sao Paulo, between the months of January and August of 2009. The data showed that among the 71 incontinent women (24.6%), 44 (62%) reported stress urinary incontinence, 65 (91.5%) were aware of urine leakage, 33 women (46.5%) experienced urine loss more than once a week, and 24 (33.8%) reported persistent urinary incontinence at the time of interview. The severity classified as moderate urinary incontinence was identified in 53 women (74.7%). The findings highlight the importance of studies on urinary incontinence in the postpartum period, as well as approaching this issue in education and health care interventions with women in the reproductive stage.

A Validated Reverse Phase HPLC Analytical Method for Quantitation of Glycoalkaloids in Solanum lycocarpum and Its Extracts

Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae) is native to the Brazilian Cerrado. Fruits of this species contain the glycoalkaloids solasonine (SN) and solamargine (SM), which display antiparasitic and anticancer properties. A method has been developed for the extraction and HPLC-UV analysis of the SN and SM in different parts of S. lycocarpum, mainly comprising ripe and unripe fruits, leaf, and stem. This analytical method was validated and gave good detection response with linearity over a dynamic range of 0.77-1000.00 mu g mL(-1) and recovery in the range of 80.92-91.71%, allowing a reliable quantitation of the target compounds. Unripe fruits displayed higher concentrations of glycoalkaloids (1.04% +/- 0.01 of SN and 0.69% +/- 0.00 of SM) than the ripe fruits (0.83% +/- 0.02 of SN and 0.60% +/- 0.01 of SM). Quantitation of glycoalkaloids in the alkaloidic extract gave 45.09% +/- 1.14 of SN and 44.37% +/- 0.60 of SM, respectively.