Skin-on-a-Chip Technology for Testing Transdermal Drug Delivery-Starting Points and Recent Developments

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Biotechnology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Drug delivery research requires accurate methods for assessing dermal penetration.
• Various technologies exist for testing drug transport across the skin barrier.
• Understanding skin penetration is crucial for topical pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review state-of-the-art skin diffusion measurement technologies.
• To detail methodologies used at Pázmány Péter Catholic University for skin penetration studies.
• To present key research findings on drug delivery through the skin.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Franz diffusion cells and novel skin-on-a-chip microfluidic devices.
• Investigated P-glycoprotein (P-gp) interactions within skin models.
• Assessed drug penetration in aged versus young skin and the impact of sample preparation (freezing/thawing) and mechanical sensitization on excised skin.

Main Results:

• Validated skin-on-a-chip devices as reliable tools for skin drug penetration studies.
• Confirmed P-glycoprotein transport exhibits an absorptive orientation in the skin.
• Demonstrated that freezing/thawing renders skin unsuitable for transporter studies and that aged skin shows lower hydrophilic drug penetration.
• Established the necessity of mechanical sensitization for excised rodent and pig skin absorption measurements.

Conclusions:

• Skin-on-a-chip technology offers a validated platform for drug penetration research.
• Findings provide critical insights into drug transport mechanisms and factors influencing dermal absorption.
• The developed platform is available for broader scientific use in drug delivery and cosmetology research.