Microparticles loaded with sweat-reducing compound for minimizing hand dermatitis triggered by prolonged glove wearing

Abstract

Lately, the world is infiltrated with catastrophic infectious diseases and medical conditions which has caused glove wearing to become a part of the new preventive measure for self-protection. However, frequent and prolonged use of gloves, especially among the healthcare personnel lead to hand dermatitis (HD). During prolonged donning of gloves, the excessive sweat produced by body fails to evaporate, leading to sweat accumulation on the skin. The accumulation exacerbates or initiates skin itching and alike symptoms. Hence, this research aims to produce gloves incorporated with poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticle (MP) containing sweat reducing compounds which reduces the occurrence of HD. Firstly, a range of compounds which can aggregate with sweat protein akin to aluminium chlorohydrate (ACH) was screened, followed by dermal irritancy and toxicity study using animal models. Thereafter, the sweat reducing efficiency of identified compounds, namely polyethyleimine (PEI) and polydiallydimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) were tested through clinical study. While PDDA and PEI reduced sweating in 40% and 70% of subjects respectively, both were excessively sticky when coated on gloves. To address this issue, two distinct formulations were developed; a dimethicone-based formulation and one incorporating with poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MP). The latter proved more effective in reducing stickiness, achieving lower viscosity and adhesiveness. Specifically, 5% PDDA-MP and 5% PEI-MP showed viscosity of 3.16 cP and 2.86 cP, and adhesion values of 0.30 mJ and 0.17 mJ, respectively. Hence, PDDA and PEI were loaded into PLGA MP and characterize in terms of particle size, zeta potential, loading efficiency, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), morphology, viscosity and adhesiveness, followed by dermal irritancy and toxicity study on rats. The findings indicate successful synthesis of PDDA and PEI MP and satisfactory MP properties. PDDA and PEI MP were then coated into gloves, and their antiperspirant efficacy was evaluated clinically alongside with glove properties, including physical properties, moisture content, powder content and anti-blocking test. The findings demonstrated that gloves coated with PDDA-MP and PEI-MP have comparably desirable glove properties to commercial gloves, while effectively reduced sweat production in 60% and 40% of subjects, respectively.