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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Visualizing and Quantifying Pharmaceutical Compounds within Skin using Coherent Raman Scattering Imaging
Published on: November 24, 2021
Percutaneous absorption of drugs
1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
This review covers practical challenges in percutaneous drug absorption, focusing on drug release, penetration enhancers, and the skin barrier. It highlights the need for more research on enhancers for clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pharmacokinetics
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Percutaneous absorption is crucial for topical drug delivery.
- Understanding skin's barrier properties is key to effective drug penetration.
- Glucocorticosteroids serve as a model for drug release studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review practical aspects of percutaneous drug absorption.
- To discuss drug release from vehicles and the role of penetration enhancers.
- To highlight challenges in drug penetration through human skin.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of percutaneous absorption studies.
- Analysis of drug release mechanisms from various vehicles.
- Evaluation of penetration enhancers and their clinical potential.
Main Results:
- The stratum corneum acts as both a barrier and a reservoir for drugs.
- Regional variations, nails, and follicles present unique penetration challenges.
- Further investigation into penetration enhancers is needed for clinical use.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing percutaneous absorption requires addressing drug release and skin barrier properties.
- Penetration enhancers show promise but need more research for safe and effective clinical application.
- Understanding anatomical variations is critical for targeted drug delivery through the skin.
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