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Updated: Apr 19, 2026
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Visualizing and Quantifying Pharmaceutical Compounds within Skin using Coherent Raman Scattering Imaging
Published on: November 24, 2021
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Quantitative 3D molecular cutaneous absorption in human skin using label free nonlinear microscopy
Xueqin Chen1, Sébastien Grégoire2, Florian Formanek2
1Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, Domaine Universitaire de Saint Jérôme, F-13397 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
Summary
This study introduces a new imaging framework using deuterated compounds and Raman spectroscopy to visualize drug penetration in human skin. It provides detailed 3D molecular concentration maps, revealing drug pathways and concentration profiles within skin layers.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Dermatology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Chemical Physics
Background:
- Percutaneous drug penetration is crucial for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
- Current imaging techniques struggle to quantify molecular distribution in deep skin tissues.
- Existing methods conflate concentration data with laser beam attenuation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel framework for imaging and reconstructing molecular concentration in artificial and human skin.
- To overcome limitations of current techniques in providing quantitative 3D molecular distribution maps.
- To enable detailed analysis of drug penetration pathways and concentration gradients.
Main Methods:
- Utilized deuterated molecular compounds for unambiguous molecular discrimination.
- Employed coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy and microscopy.
- Developed a framework for imaging and reconstructing molecular concentration within skin depth.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated intercellular and transcellular pathways for various active compounds.
- Generated in-depth concentration profiles reflecting detailed skin barrier architecture.
- Validated the framework for quantitative 3D molecular concentration mapping in skin samples.
Conclusions:
- The novel framework enables precise visualization of molecular concentration in skin depth.
- This method overcomes limitations of previous techniques by separating concentration from attenuation.
- Provides a powerful platform for evaluating the efficacy of topically applied products.
