Membrane permeation of testosterone from either solutions, particle dispersions, or particle-stabilized emulsions

We derive a unified model that accounts for the variation in extent and rate of membrane permeation by a permeating species with the type of donor compartment formulation (aqueous and oil solutions, particle dispersions, and oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions stabilized by particles) initially containing the permeant. The model is also applicable to either closed-loop or open-flow configurations of the receiver compartment of the permeation cell. Predictions of the model are compared with measured extents and rates of permeation of testosterone across an 80 μm thick polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane from donor compartments initially containing testosterone dissolved in either aqueous or isopropylmyristate (IPM) solutions, aqueous or IPM dispersions of silica nanoparticles or IPM-in-water or water-in-IPM emulsions stabilized by silica nanoparticles. Using a single set of input parameters, the model successfully accounts for the wide variations in permeation behavior observed for the different donor formulation types with either closed-loop or open flow configurations of the permeation cell receiver compartment.