@article{HoenzkeGereckeElpeltetal.2016,
  author    = {H{\"o}nzke, Stefan and Gerecke, Christian and Elpelt, Anja and Zhang, Nan and Unbehauen, Michael and Kral, Vivian and Fleige, Emanuel and Paulus, Florian and Haag, Rainer and Sch{\"a}fer-Korting, Monika and Kleuser, Burkhard and Hedtrich, Sarah},
  title     = {Tailored dendritic core-multishell nanocarriers for efficient dermal drug delivery: A systematic top-down approach from synthesis to preclinical testing},
  series = {Journal of controlled release},
  volume    = {242},
  journal   = {Journal of controlled release},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0168-3659},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.06.030},
  pages     = {50 -- 63},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Drug loaded dendritic core-multishell (CMS) nanocarriers are of especial interest for the treatment of skin diseases, owing to their striking dermal delivery efficiencies following topical applications. CMS nanocarriers are composed of a polyglycerol core, connected by amide-bonds to an inner alkyl shell and an outer methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) shell. Since topically applied nanocarriers are subjected to biodegradation, the application of conventional amide-based CMS nanocarriers (10-A-18-350) has been limited by the potential production of toxic polyglycerol amines. To circumvent this issue, three tailored ester-based CMS nanocarriers (10-E-12-350, 10-E-15-350, 10-E-18-350) of varying inner alkyl chain length were synthesized and comprehensively characterized in terms of particle size, drug loading, biodegradation and dermal drug delivery efficiency. Dexamethasone (DXM), a potent drug widely used for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, was chosen as a therapeutically relevant test compound for the present study. Ester-and amide-based CMS nanocarriers delivered DXM more efficiently into human skin than a commercially available DXM cream. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies identified CMS (10-E-15-350) as the most biocompatible carrier system. The anti-inflammatory potency of DXM-loaded CMS (10-E-15-350) nanocarriers was assessed in TNF alpha supplemented skin models, where a significant reduction of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 was seen, with markedly greater efficacy than commercial DXM cream. In summary, we report the rational design and characterization of tailored, biodegradable, ester-based CMS nanocarriers, and their subsequent stepwise screening for biocompatibility, dermal delivery efficiency and therapeutic efficacy in a top-down approach yielding the best carrier system for topical applications. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.},
  language  = {en}
}