Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Visualizing and Quantifying Pharmaceutical Compounds within Skin using Coherent Raman Scattering Imaging
Published on: November 24, 2021
Utilizing an Ex Vivo Skin Penetration Analysis Model for Predicting Ocular Drug Penetration: A Feasibility Study with
Christian Raab1, Stefan Brugger2, Jara-Sophie Lechner1
1Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Str. 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using the digital image processing technique, developed to semi-quantitatively study dermal penetration, to study corneal penetration in an ex vivo porcine eye model. Here, we investigated various formulation strategies intended to enhance dermal and corneal bioavailability of the model hydrophobic drug, curcumin.
Methods:
Several formulation principles were explored, including oily solutions, oily suspensions, aqueous nanosuspension, micelles, liposomes and cyclodextrins. The dermal penetration efficacy was tested using an ex vivo porcine ear model previously developed at Philipps-Universität Marburg with subsequent digital image processing. This image analysis method was further applied to study corneal penetration using an ex vivo porcine whole-eye model.
Results:
For dermal penetration, oily solutions, oily suspensions and nanosuspensions exhibited the least penetration, whereas liposomes and cyclodextrins showed enhanced penetration. Corneal curcumin penetration correlated with dermal penetration, with curcumin loaded into cyclodextrins penetrating the deepest.
Conclusions:
Overall, our study suggests that the image analysis method previously developed for ex vivo skin penetration can easily be repurposed to study corneal penetration of hydrophobic drugs.
Related Concept Videos
Methods for Studying Drug Absorption: In vitro
The diffusion cell method uses a two-compartment cell, including a donor compartment with the drug solution, which simulates the environment where the drug is applied, and a receptor compartment with a buffer solution, which simulates the environment...
Two-Compartment Open Model: Extravascular Administration
The absorption exponent (ka) indicates the speed at which the drug...
One-Compartment Open Model for Extravascular Administration: Zero-Order Absorption Model
Zero-order absorption maintains a steady rate irrespective of the amount of drug left to be absorbed, making it a constant process. In the...
Three-Compartment Open Model
One-Compartment Open Model for IV Bolus Administration: General Considerations
The drug's presence in the body is defined by an equation representing the difference between the rates of drug entry and exit. Key parameters—elimination rate constant,...
One-Compartment Open Model for Extravascular Administration: First-Order Absorption Model

