Liposomes as protective agents of stratum corneum against octyl glucoside: a study based on high-resolution,...

The ability of phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes to protect pig stratum corneum (SC) against the action of the nonionic surfactant octyl glucoside (OG) was investigated "in vitro" using double-layer coating for high-resolution, low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. This technique has been useful in preventing drying artifacts in the study of biological materials. The treatment of SC with OG led to a perturbation mainly in the corneocytes. However, the incubation of the tissue with liposomes prior to the OG treatment resulted in a progressive decrease in these perturbations and, consequently, in the progressive protection of the SC against the action of the surfactant.