Aerosol Corticosteroid Foam Spray for Low-Irritation Skin Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional corticosteroid formulations for skin disorders, such as creams and lotions, face issues with inefficient penetration, skin irritation, and cumbersome application methods, leading to a need for improved delivery systems that are easier to use and less irritating.
Innovation Solution
A foamable pharmaceutical composition containing a corticosteroid active substance, a quick-break foaming agent, a propellant, and a buffering agent, dispensed through an aerosol valve assembly that produces a conically-shaped spray with a controlled initial density, allowing for direct application to the skin with reduced irritation and improved convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cream bases are used for corticosteroid formulation, then the formulation can be applied to skin, but the cream is too viscous to permit efficient penetration of the active substance to the epidermis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the formulation from a viscous cream to a low-viscosity aerosol solution. This parameter change enables efficient penetration through the skin while maintaining ease of application. The aerosol formulation delivers the corticosteroid in a fine spray that can penetrate skin barriers more effectively than traditional cream vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs aerosol technology using pressurized gas to deliver the corticosteroid formulation. The pneumatic delivery system atomizes the medication into a fine spray that can penetrate skin more effectively. This approach transforms the delivery mechanism from manual application of viscous cream to pressurized aerosol spray, improving penetration efficiency.
2Reliability
If alcoholic solutions are used for corticosteroid formulation, then the active substance can penetrate the skin, but the solutions have a tendency to evaporate before penetrating the epidermis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates penetration enhancers and skin conditioning agents in the aerosol formulation that prepare the skin surface before corticosteroid delivery. This preliminary action reduces evaporation losses by creating optimal conditions for immediate absorption, ensuring the medication penetrates before evaporating.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerosol formulation uses a composite vehicle system combining multiple components including propellants, co-solvents, and penetration enhancers. This composite approach balances volatility control with penetration efficiency, reducing evaporation losses while maintaining effective drug delivery to the epidermis.
3Reliability
If conventional cream bases are used for corticosteroid formulation, then the formulation can be applied to skin, but the cream bases can be irritating to the skin, particularly over the often long exposure that is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the problematic cream base components that cause skin irritation. By transitioning to an aerosol formulation, the irritating occlusive and emollient agents typical of cream bases are removed, reducing skin irritation while maintaining treatment effectiveness through improved drug penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerosol formulation acts as a disposable, single-use delivery system that minimizes prolonged skin exposure to potentially irritating vehicles. The quick-evaporating or quick-penetrating nature of the aerosol means the skin is not exposed to residual formulation components for extended periods, reducing irritation risk.
4Reliability
If lotions are used for corticosteroid formulation, then the formulation can be applied to skin, but the fluidity of lotions often makes the physical application difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The aerosol delivery system uses pressurized gas flow to control the physical application of the formulation. The pneumatic mechanism provides precise control over spray pattern, distribution, and amount delivered, overcoming the uncontrolled fluidity issues of lotions while maintaining effective skin delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state from liquid lotion to aerosol spray, fundamentally altering application characteristics. This parameter change enables controlled delivery through adjustable spray patterns and dosing, improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable medication delivery to the skin.
5Reliability
If conventional formulations are rubbed into the target site to improve penetration, then the penetration of active substance into the epidermis is improved, but the rubbing action itself can produce irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rubbing action with a pneumatic aerosol spray system. The medication is delivered through fine spray particles that penetrate skin without requiring mechanical friction. This substitution eliminates mechanical irritation while maintaining penetration efficiency through the aerosol delivery mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerosol formulation uses pressurized gas to deliver medication particles directly to the skin surface, eliminating the need for manual rubbing. The pneumatic delivery system ensures adequate penetration through controlled spray parameters, removing the harmful mechanical irritation associated with vigorous rubbing while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a more efficient and convenient application method with reduced skin irritation, less product wastage, and improved patient compliance by eliminating the need for container inversion and excessive rubbing, while maintaining effective delivery of the corticosteroid to the skin.
Implementation Method 1
aerosol valve assembly that includes a dip tube in communication with a valve orifice through which the foamable pharmaceutical composition can be dispensed
Implementation Method 2
The foamable pharmaceutical composition is disposed in a sealed pressurizable container typically at an internal pressure of about 40 to about 80 psi
Implementation Method 3
a quick-break foaming agent that comprises (a) a straight or branched chain C1-C4 aliphatic alcohol, (b) water, (c) a fatty alcohol and (d) a surface active agent
Implementation Method 4
a surface active agent
Implementation Method 5
The valve assembly on being actuated dispenses a substantially conically-shaped spray having an apex adjacent the valve orifice
Data Source
AI summary
A foamable pharmaceutical composition and a method of treating corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses of the skin are disclosed. The foamable pharmaceutical composition comprises a corticosteroid compound as an active ingredient; a quick-break foaming agent including an aliphatic alcohol, water, a fatty alcohol and a surface active agent; a buffering agent; and a propellant. The foamable composition is disposed within a pressurizable container that comprises an aerosol valve assembly including a dip tube communicating with a valve orifice through which the foamable composition is dispensed and an actuator to start and stop dispensation. The valve assembly dispenses a conically-shaped spray at a rate of about 2 to about 0.3 g/sec and provides a foam having a density of about 0.12 to about 0.25 when sprayed at a distance of about 5 to about 10 cm from the valve orifice onto a glass surface that is at ambient room temperature.