Prediction of skin permeation by chemical compounds using the artificial membrane, Strat-M™

Abstract

PurposeThe usefulness of the synthetic membrane, Strat-M™ as an alternative to human and animal skins was evaluated by estimating the skin permeabilities of chemical compounds. MethodThirteen chemical compounds with molecular weights (M.W.) of 152–289 and lipophilicities (log Ko/w) of −0.9 to 3.5 were selected. Strat-M™, excised human skin, or hairless rat skin was set in a Franz-type diffusion cell and a saturated solution of each chemical compound was applied to determine membrane permeation profiles. The obtained permeability coefficients (log P) were compared among these membranes. Results and discussionElevations were observed in log P for Strat-M™ with an increase in the log Ko/w of the applied compounds, and similar results were observed with the human and hairless rat skins. A correlation was obtained in log P values between Strat-M™ and human or hairless rat skin. Furthermore, the diffusion and partition parameters of chemicals in Strat-M™ were similar to those in the excised human and rat skins. These results suggest that Strat-M™ could be used as an alternative to animal or human skin in permeation studies.