A hydrogel miscible azelaic acid‐ionic liquids for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Enhanced solubility and skin retention

Abstract Azelaic acid (AzA) is a natural dicarboxylic acid used to treat acne vulgaris but is greatly limited by poor aqueous solubility. This study aims to enhance the solubility and skin retention of AzA by ionic liquids (ILs). AzA‐ILs were synthesized by a decomposition reaction with amine compou...

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Main Authors: Zhezheng Fang, Xianzi Zheng, Yanyun Ma, Wei Wu, Yi Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/mba2.70000
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author Zhezheng Fang
Xianzi Zheng
Yanyun Ma
Wei Wu
Yi Lu
author_facet Zhezheng Fang
Xianzi Zheng
Yanyun Ma
Wei Wu
Yi Lu
author_sort Zhezheng Fang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Azelaic acid (AzA) is a natural dicarboxylic acid used to treat acne vulgaris but is greatly limited by poor aqueous solubility. This study aims to enhance the solubility and skin retention of AzA by ionic liquids (ILs). AzA‐ILs were synthesized by a decomposition reaction with amine compounds. AzA‐ILs synthesized with Tris‐(hydroxymethyl)‐aminomethane ([AzA][Tris]) and meglumine ([AzA][Meg]) at a molar ratio of 1:2 were liquid at room temperature and miscible with water. 1H‐NMR and FT‐IR confirmed the synthesis of AzA‐ILs. [AzA][Tris] got higher transdermal transport and skin retention of AzA than [AzA][Meg]. ZEN has a lower viscosity and better spreadability than Carbomer and thus was adopted as the gel matrix. [AzA][Tris] was also miscible with the ZEN matrix at any concentration. Hydrogels containing 10% (w/w) AzA exhibited the highest transdermal transport and skin retention among hydrogels with higher or lower concentrations of AzA. AzA‐IL hydrogel (10%, w/w) obtained similar therapeutic efficacy but lower skin irritation than the Finacea® (a marketed hydrogel of 15% AzA). In conclusion, ILs greatly enhanced the aqueous solubility of AzA to develop transparent hydrogel and skin retention to achieve good treatment for acne vulgaris.
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spelling doaj-art-be4b4a60185d40978ebb813ddd890c992025-08-20T01:49:15ZengWileyMedComm – Biomaterials and Applications2769-643X2025-03-0141n/an/a10.1002/mba2.70000A hydrogel miscible azelaic acid‐ionic liquids for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Enhanced solubility and skin retentionZhezheng Fang0Xianzi Zheng1Yanyun Ma2Wei Wu3Yi Lu4Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE School of Pharmacy, Fudan University Shanghai ChinaKey Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE School of Pharmacy, Fudan University Shanghai ChinaFudan Zhangjiang Institute Shanghai ChinaKey Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE School of Pharmacy, Fudan University Shanghai ChinaKey Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE School of Pharmacy, Fudan University Shanghai ChinaAbstract Azelaic acid (AzA) is a natural dicarboxylic acid used to treat acne vulgaris but is greatly limited by poor aqueous solubility. This study aims to enhance the solubility and skin retention of AzA by ionic liquids (ILs). AzA‐ILs were synthesized by a decomposition reaction with amine compounds. AzA‐ILs synthesized with Tris‐(hydroxymethyl)‐aminomethane ([AzA][Tris]) and meglumine ([AzA][Meg]) at a molar ratio of 1:2 were liquid at room temperature and miscible with water. 1H‐NMR and FT‐IR confirmed the synthesis of AzA‐ILs. [AzA][Tris] got higher transdermal transport and skin retention of AzA than [AzA][Meg]. ZEN has a lower viscosity and better spreadability than Carbomer and thus was adopted as the gel matrix. [AzA][Tris] was also miscible with the ZEN matrix at any concentration. Hydrogels containing 10% (w/w) AzA exhibited the highest transdermal transport and skin retention among hydrogels with higher or lower concentrations of AzA. AzA‐IL hydrogel (10%, w/w) obtained similar therapeutic efficacy but lower skin irritation than the Finacea® (a marketed hydrogel of 15% AzA). In conclusion, ILs greatly enhanced the aqueous solubility of AzA to develop transparent hydrogel and skin retention to achieve good treatment for acne vulgaris.https://doi.org/10.1002/mba2.70000acneazelaic acidhydrogelionic liquidssolubilityTris‐(hydroxymethyl)‐aminomethane
spellingShingle Zhezheng Fang
Xianzi Zheng
Yanyun Ma
Wei Wu
Yi Lu
A hydrogel miscible azelaic acid‐ionic liquids for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Enhanced solubility and skin retention
MedComm – Biomaterials and Applications
acne
azelaic acid
hydrogel
ionic liquids
solubility
Tris‐(hydroxymethyl)‐aminomethane
title A hydrogel miscible azelaic acid‐ionic liquids for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Enhanced solubility and skin retention
title_full A hydrogel miscible azelaic acid‐ionic liquids for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Enhanced solubility and skin retention
title_fullStr A hydrogel miscible azelaic acid‐ionic liquids for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Enhanced solubility and skin retention
title_full_unstemmed A hydrogel miscible azelaic acid‐ionic liquids for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Enhanced solubility and skin retention
title_short A hydrogel miscible azelaic acid‐ionic liquids for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Enhanced solubility and skin retention
title_sort hydrogel miscible azelaic acid ionic liquids for the treatment of acne vulgaris enhanced solubility and skin retention
topic acne
azelaic acid
hydrogel
ionic liquids
solubility
Tris‐(hydroxymethyl)‐aminomethane
url https://doi.org/10.1002/mba2.70000
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