Small molecule solubilization system
The invention provides a drug delivery system for the topical administration of therapeutic agents, including therapeutic agent in an amount between 0.001 and 20% by weight, propylene glycol in an amount between 2 and 6% by weight, oleyl alcohol in an amount between 2 and 6% by weight, and a volatile component in an amount between 60 and 95% by weight.
1. A drug delivery system for topical administration of a therapeutic agent comprising the therapeutic agent lidocaine present in an amount of 4% by weight, propylene glycol in an amount between 2 and 6% by weight, oleyl alcohol in an amount between 2 and 6% by weight, and a volatile component comprising a volatile polydimethylsiloxane in an amount between 60 and 90% by weight.
2. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a thickener.
3. The drug delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the drug delivery system comprises between 0.1 and 3.5 percent by weight of the thickener.
4. The drug delivery system of claim 2 or 3 , wherein the thickener comprises hydroxypropylcellulose.
5. A method for administering the drug delivery system of claim 1 to an animal in need of such treatment, comprising applying an effective amount of the drug delivery system.
6. A method for the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease or condition in an animal comprising administering to a dermal surface of an animal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a drug delivery system according to claim 1 .
7. The method of claim 5 or 6 , wherein the animal is a human.
8. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the propylene glycol and oleyl alcohol are present in a ratio of 1:1.
9. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the volatile component comprising a volatile polydimethylsiloxane is a linear or cyclic polydimethylsiloxane compound having a viscosity from about 0.5 to about 10 cst.
10. The drug delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the linear polydimethylsiloxane is selected from the group consisting of hexamethyldisiloxane, decamethyltetrasiloxane, octamethyltrisiloxane, decamethylpentasiloxane and combinations thereof.
11. The drug delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the linear polydimethylsiloxane is hexamethyldisiloxane.
12. The drug delivery system of claim 11 , wherein the hexamethyldisiloxane has a viscosity of 0.65 cST.
13. The drug delivery system of claim 9 , wherein the cyclic polydimethylsiloxane compound is a cyclomethicone.
14. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the volatile component further comprises one or more short-chain alcohols.
15. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the volatile component is present in an amount of between 60 and 85 percent by weight.