Noninvasive Nanodiamond Skin Permeation Profiling Using a Phase Analysis Method: Ex Vivo Experiments

Abstract

Carbon-based nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in nanotechnology. Among them, nanodiamonds (NDs) are suitable for biotechnology and are especially interesting for skin delivery and topical treatments. However, noninvasive detection of NDs within the different skin layers or analyzing their penetration ability is complicated due to the turbid nature of the tissue. The iterative multiplane optical properties extraction (IMOPE) technique detects differences in the optical properties of the measured item by a phase-image analysis method. The phase image is reconstructed by the multiplane Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm. This technique, traditionally, detects differences in the reduced scattering coefficients. Here, however, due to the actual size of the NDs, the IMOPE technique’s detection relies on absorption analysis rather than relying on scattering events. In this paper, we use the IMOPE technique to detect the presence of the NDs within tissue-like phantoms. In addition, we perform ex vivo pigskin experiments to estimate the penetration of the NDs to the different skin layers and show that their presence reduces at deeper layers. The significance signal of the NDs within the epidermis, dermis, and fat layers gradually reduces, with t test significance values that are smaller than 10–4, 10–3, and 10–2, respectively. The IMOPE results are corroborated by TEM results and Franz-cell experiments. These results confirm that the IMOPE profiled the skin-permeation of the NDs noninvasively.

Topical drug delivery strategies for enhancing drug effectiveness by skin barriers, drug delivery systems and individualized dosing

“…Thus, it appears that small molecule topical drugs have a greater need to limit the rate of transdermal absorption. Mineral-based materials, such as apatite, diamond and montmorillonite clay, are currently important in limiting the transdermal penetration of bioactive composition of drugs and maintaining local action ( Choimet et al, 2020 ; Shapira et al, 2022 ; Wang and Phillips, 2022 ). However, there are fewer studies of mineral-based materials in topical drug delivery systems, and the mechanism of action is unclear.…”

Sensing the penetration of nanodiamond along different skin layers according to their optical properties

“…Since the detection of the IMOPE technique is based on evaluating 𝜇 𝑠 ′ , detection of small NPs with negligible scattering poses a challenge for the IMOPE technique. We extend the technique for sensing nanodiamonds (ND) as such, by sensing the change of the root mean square (RMS) of the phase, difference caused by the ND's absorption [13]. First, we modify the theoretical model for absorption-oriented analysis and present measurements of solid and liquid intralipid (IL) phantoms that agree with our theoretical model.…”

“…First, we modify the theoretical model for absorption-oriented analysis and present measurements of solid and liquid intralipid (IL) phantoms that agree with our theoretical model. We applied NDs solution on ex vivo pigskin and used the IMOPE to show the penetration of NDs along the three skin layers (epidermis, dermis and fat) [13,14]. Moreover, we showed that the significance signal of the NDs reduces along with the depth of the skin layer and presented values for the relative concentration of NDs in each layer-non-invasively.…”

Potential Role of Carbon Nanomaterials in the Treatment of Malignant Brain Gliomas

“…They have a large surface area with a microscopic diameter between 2 and 8 nanometers. They are nanocrystals with a diamond-like structure which gives them particular electronic and physical properties [38] The fullerenes are spherical and resemble cages. Also known as buckminsterfullerene, it is a compound with a spheroidal polyhedral structure with 60 carbon atoms.…”