Novel Gels for Post-Piercing Care: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pranoprofen Formulations in Reducing Inflammation
Mild to moderate pain for a few hours to several days post-piercing is normal, and the pain is usually accompanied by swelling, redness, and warmth due to the inflammatory response. Cool compresses and over-the-counter analgesics (e.g., NSAIDs) can ease mild discomfort. However, oral NSAIDs may have...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/5/334 |
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| author | Negar Ahmadi Maria Rincón Mireia Mallandrich Joaquim Suñer-Carbó Lilian Sosa Mireya Zelaya Sergio Martinez-Ruiz Cecilia Cordero Ana C. Calpena |
| author_facet | Negar Ahmadi Maria Rincón Mireia Mallandrich Joaquim Suñer-Carbó Lilian Sosa Mireya Zelaya Sergio Martinez-Ruiz Cecilia Cordero Ana C. Calpena |
| author_sort | Negar Ahmadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mild to moderate pain for a few hours to several days post-piercing is normal, and the pain is usually accompanied by swelling, redness, and warmth due to the inflammatory response. Cool compresses and over-the-counter analgesics (e.g., NSAIDs) can ease mild discomfort. However, oral NSAIDs may have systemic side effects; for this reason, we propose a topical anti-inflammatory approach. Four pranoprofen-loaded gels were created using different gelling agents: Sepigel<sup>®</sup> 305 (PF-Gel-Sep), Carbopol<sup>®</sup> 940 (PF-Gel-Car), Pluronic<sup>®</sup> F-68 (PF-Gel-Plu), and Lutrol<sup>®</sup> F-127 (PF-Gel-Lut). The gels were assessed for pH, morphology, FT-IR spectroscopy, rheological properties, spreadability, swelling and degradation, drug release kinetics, skin permeation (cow and human skin), irritation potential (HET-CAM assay), and impact on skin barrier function (TEWL and SCH). The gels exhibited varied rheological properties with PF-Gel-Car showing high viscosity and PF-Gel-Plu very low viscosity. All gels had similar spreadability with PF-Gel-Lut showing the highest. PF-Gel-Car showed the highest amounts of PF released, whereas PF-Gel-Plu led to the highest amount of pranoprofen retained in human and bovine skin. The HET-CAM assay indicated that none of the PF-Gels were irritating. Additionally, PF-Gel-Car and PF-Gel-Plu showed no cytotoxic effects on HaCaT cells. In vivo testing on mice showed that PF-Gel-Car prevented inflammation, while the rest of the gels were able to revert it in 25 min. Skin tolerance tests revealed the gels did not affect TEWL, and some gels improved SCH. The study successfully formulated and characterized four PF-loaded topical gels with potential to be used as an alternative for treating inflammation from piercings and ear tags. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b240a94c2ff4fc99fd7badf20d8edcb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b240a94c2ff4fc99fd7badf20d8edcb2025-08-20T03:14:36ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-04-0111533410.3390/gels11050334Novel Gels for Post-Piercing Care: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pranoprofen Formulations in Reducing InflammationNegar Ahmadi0Maria Rincón1Mireia Mallandrich2Joaquim Suñer-Carbó3Lilian Sosa4Mireya Zelaya5Sergio Martinez-Ruiz6Cecilia Cordero7Ana C. Calpena8Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Materials Science and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Barcelona, C. Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, SpainCentro Experimental en Biociencia (CENBIO), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa 11101, HondurasLaboratorio de Técnicas Histológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa 11101, HondurasDepartament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Bioquímica i Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, SpainMild to moderate pain for a few hours to several days post-piercing is normal, and the pain is usually accompanied by swelling, redness, and warmth due to the inflammatory response. Cool compresses and over-the-counter analgesics (e.g., NSAIDs) can ease mild discomfort. However, oral NSAIDs may have systemic side effects; for this reason, we propose a topical anti-inflammatory approach. Four pranoprofen-loaded gels were created using different gelling agents: Sepigel<sup>®</sup> 305 (PF-Gel-Sep), Carbopol<sup>®</sup> 940 (PF-Gel-Car), Pluronic<sup>®</sup> F-68 (PF-Gel-Plu), and Lutrol<sup>®</sup> F-127 (PF-Gel-Lut). The gels were assessed for pH, morphology, FT-IR spectroscopy, rheological properties, spreadability, swelling and degradation, drug release kinetics, skin permeation (cow and human skin), irritation potential (HET-CAM assay), and impact on skin barrier function (TEWL and SCH). The gels exhibited varied rheological properties with PF-Gel-Car showing high viscosity and PF-Gel-Plu very low viscosity. All gels had similar spreadability with PF-Gel-Lut showing the highest. PF-Gel-Car showed the highest amounts of PF released, whereas PF-Gel-Plu led to the highest amount of pranoprofen retained in human and bovine skin. The HET-CAM assay indicated that none of the PF-Gels were irritating. Additionally, PF-Gel-Car and PF-Gel-Plu showed no cytotoxic effects on HaCaT cells. In vivo testing on mice showed that PF-Gel-Car prevented inflammation, while the rest of the gels were able to revert it in 25 min. Skin tolerance tests revealed the gels did not affect TEWL, and some gels improved SCH. The study successfully formulated and characterized four PF-loaded topical gels with potential to be used as an alternative for treating inflammation from piercings and ear tags.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/5/334topical gelsNipagin (methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate)Nipasol (propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate)pranoprofen (PF)NSAIDinflammation reduction |
| spellingShingle | Negar Ahmadi Maria Rincón Mireia Mallandrich Joaquim Suñer-Carbó Lilian Sosa Mireya Zelaya Sergio Martinez-Ruiz Cecilia Cordero Ana C. Calpena Novel Gels for Post-Piercing Care: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pranoprofen Formulations in Reducing Inflammation Gels topical gels Nipagin (methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate) Nipasol (propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate) pranoprofen (PF) NSAID inflammation reduction |
| title | Novel Gels for Post-Piercing Care: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pranoprofen Formulations in Reducing Inflammation |
| title_full | Novel Gels for Post-Piercing Care: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pranoprofen Formulations in Reducing Inflammation |
| title_fullStr | Novel Gels for Post-Piercing Care: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pranoprofen Formulations in Reducing Inflammation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel Gels for Post-Piercing Care: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pranoprofen Formulations in Reducing Inflammation |
| title_short | Novel Gels for Post-Piercing Care: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pranoprofen Formulations in Reducing Inflammation |
| title_sort | novel gels for post piercing care evaluating the efficacy of pranoprofen formulations in reducing inflammation |
| topic | topical gels Nipagin (methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate) Nipasol (propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate) pranoprofen (PF) NSAID inflammation reduction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/5/334 |
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