Enhanced and Sustained Cutaneous Delivery of Vismodegib by Ablative Fractional Laser and Microemulsion Formulation

Oral administration of vismodegib for basal cell carcinoma treatment is limited by significant class-specific systemic side effects. We investigated the approach of combining ablative fractional laser-assisted drug delivery with an extended-release microemulsion formulation of vismodegib to provide efficient cutaneous delivery in vivo. The developed formulation consisted of an oil-in-water microemulsion stabilized by Tween-80. Pig skin was exposed to ablative fractional laser followed by topical application of vismodegib microemulsion for 4 hours. At 4 hours, 2 days, 5 days, and 9 days, we evaluated vismodegib biodistribution in superficial, mid, and deep dermis and plasma (n = 189 measurements) and assessed local skin reactions. Sustained topical delivery of vismodegib was detected in all depths of ablative fractional laser-exposed skin over the course of the study, with peak concentrations found at 5 days and 9 days. The highest vismodegib concentrations reached 1,409.7 μmol/liter in superficial dermis and 62.3 μmol/liter in deep dermis, exceeding steady-state plasma concentrations previously reported for oral administration of vismodegib (5.5-56.0 μmol/liter). Ablative fractional laser increased vismodegib uptake up to 16.6-fold compared with intact skin. Only mild local skin responses to vismodegib were observed, and no vismodegib was detected in plasma. We report sustained topical delivery of vismodegib in vivo at high concentrations with favorable skin tolerability, suggesting a future safer vismodegib treatment.