Eutectogel based on multi-functional deep eutectic solvent for acne infection treatment

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), as a new type of green and easily designable solvent, showed great potential applications in various fields. In this work, a novel deep eutectic solvent based on active pharmaceutical ingredient matrine and lauric acid was developed. The structure, thermal stability, and cytotoxicity were investigated by various technologies. The prepared DES displayed excellent ability on enhancing the solubility of curcumin, and the curcuim showed high stability in DES. Moreover, DES as well as curcumin-contained DES possessed good antioxidant and anti- P. acne activity. More importantly, the prepared DES can act as a gelator to form eutectogel in water, which was confirmed from the rheological behavior and scanning electron microscope (SEM) measurement. The curcumin-contained eutectogel displayed good injectable and permeation ability. Therefore, the prepared multi-functional DES (i.e. antioxidant, antibacterial agent, solvent and stabilizer of curcumin, and gelator) provides a new strategy to construct transdermal delivery system that displays potential application on treatment of acne infection.