Percutaneous absorption of drugs

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Delivery and Pharmacokinetics

Background:

• The skin acts as a critical barrier controlling drug absorption, impacting both local and systemic drug availability.
• Numerous factors influence percutaneous absorption, including individual biological variations, race, skin site, and external exposures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the multifaceted factors affecting percutaneous drug absorption in humans.
• To highlight the importance of understanding these variables for accurate bioavailability assessment and drug development.

Main Methods:

• Review of in vivo and in vitro methods for studying drug percutaneous absorption.
• Discussion of factors influencing absorption, such as drug formulation, concentration, exposure area, frequency, and duration.
• Consideration of animal models and their relevance in predicting human absorption.

Main Results:

• Percutaneous absorption is a complex interplay of drug properties, skin characteristics, and administration conditions.
• Washing and drug vehicle significantly affect drug release and absorption.
• The most accurate assessment of percutaneous absorption involves in vivo application in the intended clinical setting.

Conclusions:

• Accurate prediction of drug absorption requires accounting for all influencing variables.
• Research continues to focus on the relevance of various methods for predicting human in vivo absorption.
• Deviations from intended clinical application introduce variables that can alter percutaneous absorption outcomes.