ANTIFLAMMIN-1 PEPTIDE DELIVERED NONINVASIVELY BY IONTOPHORESIS REDUCES IRRITANT-INDUCED INFLAMMATION IN-VIVO

The potential of an anti-inflammatory peptide (antiflammin 1) to reduc e irritation when delivered transdermally by iontophoresis was examine d. A model drug irritant, chlorpromazine, was co-delivered with and wi thout antiflammin I by iontophoresis to hairless guinea pigs transderm ally. Quantitative skin irritation measurements were obtained by monit oring erythema by skin color reflectance with the Minolta Chromameter. Antiflammin 1 delivered by iontophoresis significantly decreased, but did not eliminate, the erythema associated with co-delivery of an irr itating drug compound. Lesion formation was also reduced in the presen ce of antiflammin 1. In vitro flux across hairless guinea pig skin dem onstrated no significant differences in flux of the irritant compound in the presence or absence of antiflammin 1. In vivo generation and ef flux of the inflammation mediator Prostaglandin E-2 increased during 2 4-h application of irritant and was unchanged in the presence of antif lammin 1. This result is discussed with respect to recent evidence tha t antiflammins may act on the lipo-oxygenase pathway. In summary, anti flammin 1, an anti-inflammatory peptide, can be delivered transdermall y by iontophoresis with retention of its biological activity in vivo.