Hydrocortisone Diffusion Through Synthetic Membrane, Mouse Skin, and Epiderm™ Cultured Skin

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacokinetics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Topical hydrocortisone (HC) is widely used for inflammatory skin conditions.
• Understanding HC penetration through different skin models is crucial for formulation development.
• The effect of skin hydration on drug permeation requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the penetration of HC from various topical formulations.
• To evaluate the impact of pre-washing (skin hydration) on HC permeation.
• To assess HC penetration through human skin models, mouse skin, and synthetic membranes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Upright Franz Cells to measure HC permeation.
• Tested seven different topical HC products, including OTC and prescription formulations.
• Employed cultured human epidermal keratinocytes (Epiderm™), mouse skin, and synthetic nylon membranes.

Main Results:

• The HC gel formulation exhibited the highest permeation across all tested membranes, especially with pre-washing.
• Pre-washing significantly enhanced HC penetration through Epiderm™ and mouse skin.
• HC penetration through synthetic membranes was approximately ten times greater than through biological skin models.

Conclusions:

• Topical HC gel formulation with pre-treatment offers superior skin penetration.
• Skin hydration via pre-washing is a key factor in optimizing topical HC delivery.
• Synthetic membranes provide a higher, but less representative, measure of HC permeation compared to biological models.