Biopharmaceutical Investigation of Antioxidant Gel

Abstract

Introduction: With the recognized association between oxidative stress and skin diseases, incorporating antioxidants into treatment strategies has gained importance. However, dermatological dosage forms containing antioxidants are underrepresented on the pharmaceutical market. The search for delivery systems that ensure antioxidant stability and enhance antioxidant effects on the skin remains is quite relevant. Among the various dosage forms, gels have gained significant interest in recent times.
 The purpose of this study work is to conduct a comparative biopharmaceutical investigation of gels containing the synthetic antioxidant ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate (EMHPS) at different concentrations of the active ingredient.
 Materials and methods: The study utilized gel compositions containing EMHPS at concentrations ranging from 2.5% to 7.5%. Synthetic polymer compounds were employed as gelling agents, and the gels were prepared under laboratory conditions according to the technological scheme developed by the author. The obtained samples were assessed for thermal, colloidal, and mechanical stability. The release rate of EMHPS from the gels was determined by the dialysis method using a semipermeable membrane according to Kruchinsky. Dialysate samples were collected over a 5-hour period and analyzed spectrophotometrically at 297 nm. The data obtained were checked for normal distribution and statistically processed using Excel tables.
 Results: The studied gels exhibited thermal and colloidal stability, no delamination occurred under elevated temperature and centrifugation conditions. The gels and their bases demonstrated mechanical stability, with respective values ranging from 1 to 2. Analysis of the dialysis results revealed that the release of the active substance from all three gel samples commenced after 15 minutes, exhibited intensive increase within the first 60 minutes, and continued to gradually increase from 1 to 4 hours. Although the fraction of released active substance remained consistent across the three gels at each time interval, the absolute EMHPS amount in the dialysate depended on the drug concentration
 In conclusion, synthetic-based gels containing EMHPS can be successfully formulated, meeting the criteria of thermal, colloidal, and mechanical stability. These gels demonstrated the ability to release 47-49% of the active substance within the first 30 minutes, proportional to its concentration