Evaluation of alternative strategies to optimize ketorolac transdermal delivery

In the present study, 2 alternative strategies to optimize ketorolac transdermal delivery, namely, prodrugs (polyoxyethylene glycol ester derivatives, I–IV) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) were investigated. The synthesized prodrugs were chemically stable and easily degraded to the parent drug in human plasma. Ketorolac-loaded NLC with high drug content could be successfully prepared. The obtained products formulated into gels showed a different trend of drug permeation through human stratum corneum and epidermis. Particularly, skin permeation of ester prodrugs was significantly enhanced, apart from ester IV, compared with ketorolac, while the results of drug release from NLC outlined that these carriers were ineffective in increasing ketorolac percutaneous absorption owing to a higher degree of mutual interaction between the drug and carrier lipid matrix. Polyoxyethylene glycol esterification confirmed to be a suitable approach to enhance ketorolac transdermal delivery, while NLC seemed more appropriate for sustained release owing to the possible formation of a drug reservoir into the skin

A configurational approach to when entrepreneurs use strong or weak ties to attract their customers

This study investigates when entrepreneurs attract their ventures’ initial customers through strong or weak ties. Attracting customers is important for technology ventures that need to find applications for their technologies. Based on survey data from Belgian technology ventures, our fsQCA results identify three types of resource-seeking behaviors that are characterized by the entrepreneurs’ proactive personalities and human capital, the firm’s resource endowments and the environment. Further investigations reveal that these three types can be described as resource-planning, resource-bootstrapping, and resource-bricolage. Our study contributes to the literatures on entrepreneurial resource acquisition, customers and strong and weak ties