Isopropyl Myristate

Isopropyl myristate (IPM) is the ester of isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid. It is a common, naturally occurring fatty acid. IPM is a moisturizer with polar characteristics used in cosmetics and topical medical preparations to ameliorate skin absorption. IPM has been largely studied and impulsed as a skin penetration enhancer. At the moment, the primary usage for which IPM is formally indicated is as the active ingredient in a non-prescription pediculicide rinse.

Fig.1 The chemical structure of IPM.

In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA)-Conjugated PLGA Nanoparticles Loaded With Paclitaxel and IPM

PLGA NPs loaded with paclitaxel were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method. WGA was coupled to preformed IPM- and paclitaxel-loaded PLGA NPs by the two-step carbodiimide method. Coupling with WGA surface can increase particle size while adding IPM and WGA can reduce zeta potential. WGA did not affect the in vitro release profile of paclitaxel, but the addition of IPM enhanced the initial release of paclitaxel. WIT-NP (paclitaxel-loaded PLGA nanoparticles containing IPM and surface modified with WGA)was more cytotoxic to A549 and H1299 cells in vitro than other nanoparticle formulations. WIT-NP more efficiently ingests cells through WGA receptor-mediated endocytosis, and IPM promotes the release of paclitaxel from NPs, thus showing stronger cell-killing effects. Scientists proposed that the addition of IPM resulted in the dissolution of loaded paclitaxel in both IPM and PLGA substrates, and drug diffusion through IPM contributes to a faster release of paclitaxel from the NP.

Fig.2 In vitro release profiles of paclitaxel from PLGA nanoparticles into PBS, pH7.4, 37^oC; T-NP: nanoparticles without WGA and IPM; IT-NP: nanoparticles with IPM; WTNP: nanoparticles with WGA conjugation; WIT-NP: nanoparticles with IPM and WGA. (Mo, 2005)

Enhanced Transdermal Delivery of Estradiol (E₂) In Vitro Using Binary Vehicles of IPM and Short-chain Alkanols

Using human epidermal membrane as material, the effects of IPM and short-chain alkanol binary carrier on the permeation of E₂ in vitro were studied. While the neat solvents modestly increased the E₂ flux, the addition of IPM to the alkanols resulted in a synergistic enhancement of the E₂ flux. This combination was also the best in terms of relative compositions of the IPM/i-PrOH cosolvents. While i-PrOH traversed the skin, IPM was retained in the stratum corneum. The uptake of both IPM and E₂ in the stratum corneum was largely increased by adding i-PrOH (up to 50%) to IPM. This combination of i-PrOH diffusion across and IPM retention in the stratum corneum offers synergistic enhancement in transdermal delivery for other lipophilic drugs.

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Reference

1. Mo, Y.; Lim, L.Y. Preparation and in vitro anticancer activity of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-conjugated PLGA nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel and isopropyl myristate. J Control Release. 2005 Sep 20;107(1): 30-42.