Acyclovir permeation through rat skin: mathematical modelling and in vitro experiments

Area of Science:

• Pharmacokinetics and Drug Delivery
• Mathematical Modeling in Biology
• Dermal Permeation Studies

Background:

• Understanding drug permeation through skin is crucial for effective topical and transdermal delivery.
• Existing models often simplify experimental conditions, potentially leading to inaccurate permeability assessments.
• Accurate characterization of skin permeability is essential for predicting drug efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a mathematical model for characterizing male rat skin permeation properties.
• To create a reliable tool for determining skin permeability based on experimental data.
• To account for drug dissolution and receiver sampling techniques within the mathematical model.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a purely diffusive mathematical model based on Fick's second law.
• Incorporated experimental conditions: drug dissolution in the donor phase and receiver sampling.
• Employed a Franz cell apparatus at 37°C with Acyclovir as the model drug for permeation experiments.

Main Results:

• The proposed mathematical model effectively describes Acyclovir permeation through rat skin.
• The model provides a more detailed characterization of full-skin resistance compared to simplified approaches.
• Differences were observed in skin resistance evaluation between the proposed model and common simplified methods.

Conclusions:

• The developed mathematical model offers a robust method for characterizing skin permeation.
• The model's ability to include specific experimental factors enhances the accuracy of permeability determination.
• This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of drug transport across the skin barrier.