Why carry out this study?

Optimizing drug delivery from topical vehicles is essential for efficacy in treating dermatologic disease.

This research examined the delivery of betamethasone dipropionate (BDP) to the skin using a combination calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate approved drug formulation in an oil-based gelled topical suspension as compared to a new cream formulation utilizing a novel oil-in-water emulsion system.

What was learned from this study?

The newer emulsion-type formulation and drug delivery technology, termed polyaphron dispersion (PAD) technology, encapsulates dispersed oil droplets in a robust multimolecular aqueous film of surfactants, oil, and water enabling a multifold decrease in surfactant concentration.

The newer PAD technology cream formulation delivered more BDP into the upper stratum corneum and lower epidermis than a traditional suspension.