Transdermal carrier materials

Abstract

Amphoteric dissociating complexes which have a cationic group having the structure ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is an aliphatic alkyl group having 6 to 22 carbons, R.sub.2 is a member of the group consisting of --R.sub.4 --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2)--COOH, --R.sub.4 --(CH.dbd.CH)COOH and --OPO.sub.3 H.sub.2, wherein R.sub.4 is --NH--, --NH--CO--, or --O--CO--, and R.sub.3 is hydrogen, --CH.sub.2 --COOH or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --COOH; and an anionic group which is either a carboxylate having the formula .sup.- OOC--CH.sub.2 --(O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2).sub.x --OC.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 or a phosphate having the formula .sup.= O.sub.3 PO--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --(OCH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2).sub.x --OC.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 wherein: n is 8 to 22 and x is 1 to 10; and z is 1 when the anionic radical is a carboxylate and z is 2 when the anionic radical is a phosphate are disclosed. The compositions are effective carriers for active pharmaceutical or cosmetic ingredients. The active ingredients may be ionically complexed with the cationic or anionic group of the amphoteric complex or may be covalently bonded to one of the groups of the complex. Alternatively, the active substances may be transported in the carriers as micellar inclusions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.