Transdermal absorption of l-dopa from hydrogel in rats

Advances in Tissue Engineering and Innovative Fabrication Techniques for 3-D-Structures: Translational Applications in Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…The use of scaffolds allowed significant advances in disease modeling, as explained in the previous paragraph, and when focusing on diseases therapy, most research is currently focused on pre-clinical studies. Indeed, although there is a great potentiality for scaffolds’ use, it is of course firstly necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of each scaffold in pre-clinical models [ 155 , 156 , 157 , 158 , 159 , 160 , 161 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 ]. Indeed, a lack of toxicity and an improvement in diseases’ hallmarks are necessary aims that need to be fulfilled before moving on to clinical practice.…”

“…Other pharmacological agents and even stem cell therapy are being considered for the treatment of PD, but a disease-modifying therapeutic agent has not yet been developed [ 189 ]. A number of works have investigated the potentiality of hydrogels in the delivery of therapeutic agents (both pharmacological and biologicals) in in vivo models of PD [ 156 , 157 , 158 ]. Indeed, the delivery of pharmacological agents, which have been proved effective in the attenuation of PD’s symptoms, can be potentiated with hydrogels [ 156 , 169 ].…”

“…These scaffolds “protect” the delivered neurotrophic agents (e.g., Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor GDNF, NGF) and promote a controlled and localized release, as it is possible to determine their decay. Examples include the development of systems aimed at improving the delivery of the therapeutic agent: A hydrogel-based system aimed at improving transdermal dopamine delivery [ 157 ] and a biodegradable polymer matrix releasing dopamine in the striatum of a hemi-parkinsonian animal model [ 190 ]. Systems have been developed for the administration of neurotrophic factors, already partially studied as treatment of the diseases, such as GDNF-loaded microspheres stereotaxically implanted in brain of PD-affected animals [ 158 , 191 , 192 ].…”

Molecularly imprinted cyclodextrin nanosponges for the controlled delivery of L-DOPA: perspectives for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease

“…Since L-DOPA is a polar compound, it cannot easily cross the lipid barrier of the skin; therefore, organic solvents have been employed to increase the cutaneous permeability of the drug. Studies conducted on rats have been successful, but the effects of these dermal treatments on humans are still unknown [11]. Encouraging results have also been achieved using gastroretentive delivery systems.…”

Levodopa delivery systems for the treatment of Parkinson's disease: An overview

“…In this way, the development and evaluation on a rat model of a hydrogel formulation containing levodopa, using ethanol and menthol as cutaneous permeation enhancers, was reported (Sudo et al, 1998). The influence of the enhancer concentration was studied, with an increasing percentage of ethanol ranging from 20% to 40% (v/w).…”