
Using the same base technology, the production processes have been scaled up to 100 kg/batch (for non-pharma products 9) and are GMP compatible.Ĭeramisphere has also developed specific processes to encapsulate a wide range of biological actives, e.g. The release rate is controlled by the internal structure of the sphere, which is customised during synthesis. 6-8 The payload is released by diffusion through the 3D porous network of the silica “sponge”. Biodegradable spherical matrix particles are produced under ambient conditions with a tailored size (from 50nm-100μm), providing controlled release of the active (from hours to days). Through a combination of sol-gel technology and emulsion chemistry, 5 Ceramisphere can encapsulate a wide range of water soluble and insoluble actives inside an amorphous silica matrix.

The challenge of multiple high-dose administrations, frequent and painful dressing changes, and the high cost of treatment continue to impede the much needed commercialisation of these very promising bioactives. This has been difficult to achieve thus far, due to these biomolecules being susceptible to rapid degradation by enzymes in the wound. 4 However, for these to be effective, sustained release is required during healing. Growth factors help with wound regeneration and have the potential to reduce scarring.
SILICA IN SKIN CARE DRIVER
It is forecast that the market for BWM will grow to US$4.9 billion (£3.5 billion) by 2020, 3 a major driver for this being the use of growth factors.
SILICA IN SKIN CARE PATCH
Furthermore, issues such as leakage of the drugs from the patch and/or crystallisation of the drug during application can lead to uncontrollable and unpredictable dose administration.Īnother fast-growing facet of skin delivery based applications is bioactive wound management (BWM). Inappropriate disposal, drug abuse and unintentional exposure are limiting the patches’ use in clinical medicine lowered prescriptions have led to a drop of up to approximately 20% in annual sales of fentanyl patches. In the case of fentanyl patches for example, although the clinically preferred treatment for several types of chronic pain, typically up to 60% of the drug is left in the patch when discarded. In addition to being uneconomical, inappropriate use and disposal of the patches also pose a serious public health risk, especially for controlled drug applications. This is highly inefficient as most of the drug remains in the patch after use (40-97%). Such high doses can trigger adverse skin reaction, thus limiting how long the system can be applied. In most cases, systems require a very high loading to obtain constant release of drug. While there has been considerable progress in the development of occluded and controlled-release pain relief systems, 2 there remain some outstanding limitations, most notable of which is the undesirably high drug content during and after application.

“While there has been considerable progress in the development of occluded and controlled-release pain relief systems, there remain some outstanding limitations, most notable of which is the undesirably high drug content during and after application…” Currently, 40 transdermal patches are available on the market, with over 70 more in clinical trials, 1 pain relief and hormone therapy products being the most prevalent.

Transdermal patches, ointments, gels and implants are currently the popular methods for transdermal drug delivery, with patches fast becoming the preferred option, especially for the elderly and children. This market accounts for more than 12% of the overall global drug delivery market today.
SILICA IN SKIN CARE DRIVERS
As such, patient acceptance of, and demand for, skin delivery products has increased, which have proven to be one of the main drivers for the skin delivery market.

The development of dermal delivery systems has made pain-free self-administration a real option for patients. The authors go on to detail a nanocomposite lidocaine patch, developed in collaboration with Nanopharma (Pardubice, Czech Republic), and how its achievements could be a boon to the skin delivery space as a whole. ONdrugDelivery Magazine, Issue 84 (Mar 2018), pp 12-16.Īparajita Khatri and Christophe A Barbé outline the growth of the dermal delivery market, as well as the challenges it faces. Citation: Khatri A, Barbé CA, “Silica Nano-Solutions for Skin Delivery”.
