The study aimed to create a low loading, high retention, easier to apply O/W mometasone furoate (MF) cream using a chemical enhancer (CE) approach to provide more options for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and to investigate molecular mechanisms of its increased release and retention. A Box-Behnken design determined the optimal formulation based on stability and in vitro skin retention. Evaluations included appearance, rheological properties, irritation, in vivo tissue distribution and pharmacodynamics. Molecular mechanisms of enhanced release were studied using high-speed centrifugation, molecular dynamics and rheology. The interaction between the CE, MF and skin was studied by tape stripping, CLSM, ATR-FTIR and SAXS. The formulation was optimized to contain 0.05% MF and used 10% polyglyceryl-3 oleate (POCC) as the CE. There was no significant difference from Elocon® cream in in vivo retention and pharmacodynamics but increased in vivo retention by 3.14-fold and in vitro release by 1.77-fold compared to the basic formulation. POCC reduced oil phase cohesive energy density, enhancing drug mobility and release. It disrupted skin lipid phases, aiding drug entry and formed hydrogen bonds, prolonging retention. This study highlights POCC as a CE in the cream, offering insights for semi-solid formulation development.

The present work was to construct a roflumilast (ROF) cream for the treatment of psoriasis and clarify the dual roles of propylene glycol monocaprylate (PGM) in both molecular mobility of the cream, and drug-skin miscibility via drug-PGM-ceramide and drug-PGM-collagen intermolecular interaction. The cream formulation was screened through the stability study and in vitro skin administration study, optimized by Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken design, and finally verified by the in vivo tissue distribution study. PGM demonstrated a significant drug skin retention enhancement effect (Rmax in vivo = 19.5 μg/g). It increased the molecular mobility of the oil phase of the cream by decreasing the molecular interaction of oil molecules proven by the rheology study (Ec = 3.73 × 10-4 mJ·m-3). More importantly, because of the good stratum corneum (SC) compatibility (∆H =  - 403.88 J/g), PGM promoted an orderly flow of SC lipids (X-ray scattering, ΔLPP = 1.18 nm) and entered the viable epidermis/dermis (VE/DE) in large quantities (RPGM = 1186 μg/g), acting as a bridge to connect the drug to collagen through two H-bonds (LengthH-bond = 2.846 Å and 3.313 Å), thus increasing the miscibility of drug and VE/DE significantly (∆H =  - 310.10 J/g, Emix = 21.66 kcal/mol). In this study, a ROF cream was developed successfully and the effect of PGM on the skin retention was clarified at molecular level.

Due to environmental issues caused by plastic packaging and growing consumer demand for fresh and safe food, there is a growing interest in antibacterial active food packaging films/coatings containing plant essential oils (EO). For the effective use of EO-incorporated active films/coatings, EO must be effectively integrated encapsulated in active films/coatings, and the integrated encapsulated EO must be released from active films/coatings slowly during storage to exhibit antibacterial effects more durable. Recently, several promising strategies have been proposed to improve the sustained release and retention enhancement of EO in active films/coatings, including particle encapsulation, nanoemulsion, Pickering emulsions, multilayer system, and electrospinning technology. This article reviewed the latest technologies of sustained release and retention enhancement strategies for encapsulating EO in active films/coatings. The advantages and disadvantages of these sustained release and retention enhancement strategies and their practical applications in food preservation are also introduced.