Nanostructures from alkyl vitamin C derivatives (ASCn): Properties and potential platform for drug delivery

A review. Alkyl vitamin C derivs. (ASCn) combine in their structure a lipophilic and a hydrophilic moiety and exhibit properties of typical surfactant mols. Self-assembly properties of ASCn depend on the length of n-alkyl fatty chain. ASCn start to aggregate at temps. (CMT, Krafft point) in which the soly. reaches the crit. micellar concn. (CMC). Above this temp., ASCn can aggregate in micelles or gel phase, depending of alkyl side chain. Upon cooling, for less sol. derivs. (ASC12, ASC14 and ASC16) liq.-crystal structures named coagels are obtained. They are able to solubilize insol. and unstable drugs, protect them from any possible aggressive environment and promote their permeation through skin. Besides, the rheol. properties of the coagels would be adequate for topical administration of pharmaceutical. These systems possess very interesting properties making ASCn coagels promising pharmaceutical platforms for drug delivery. Results from investigations about all these properties are described and analyzed. Also, the perspectives of these systems as drug delivery systems are discussed.