Choline and amino acid based biocompatible ionic liquid mediated transdermal delivery of the sparingly soluble drug acyclovir

Transdermal delivery of drugs is more challenging for drugs that are insoluble or sparingly soluble in water and most organic solvents. To overcome this problem, ionic liquid (IL)-mediated ternary systems have been suggested as potential drug carriers. Here, we report potent ternary (IL-EtOH-IPM) systems consisting of biocompatible ILs, ethanol (EtOH), and isopropyl myristate (IPM) that can dissolve a significant amount of the sparingly soluble drug acyclovir (ACV). The ternary systems were optically transparent and thermodynamically stable with a wide range of IL pertinence. An in vitro drug permeation study showed that the ILs in the ternary systems dramatically enhanced ACV permeation into and across the skin. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy of the stratum corneum (sc) after treatment with ternary systems…