172585-00-1Relevant articles and documents
Testosterone prodrugs for improved drug delivery
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, (2008/06/13)
Compositions and methods are provided for enhanced transdermal electrotransport of 17-hydroxy sterol compounds, including testosterone. The parent sterols are modified at the 17-hydroxy position by covalent attachment of a charged chemical modifier. The chemical modifier provides the parent sterol with enhanced transport properties and is hydrolyzed under physiological conditions to release the active parent compound. The composition comprises a 17-hydroxy sterol/chemical modifier complex, more generally represented by the formula (sterol--O--)C(O)--R--N(R1)(R2)(R3)+. The portion of the complex derived from the chemical modifier is indicated by "C(O)--R--N(R1)(R2)(R3)+ ", where N(R1)(R2)(R3)+ represents a quaternary ammonium group and R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, and heteroarylalkyl; or R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a substituted heterocycle and R3 is lower alkyl, and R is a linking moiety, linking the (sterol--O)--C(O)-- to the nitrogen atom.
