Microstructural Characterization and In Vitro-In Vivo Evaluation of Drug Release and Permeation in Goupi Plaster

Background/Objectives: Goupi plaster (GP) is a traditional black plaster composed of a biphasic fibrous-oil matrix containing multiple bioactive compounds, and it has been widely used for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Representative active compounds include sinomenine, osthole, cinnamaldehyde, and imperatorin, which exhibit anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, due to its heterogeneous matrix structure and multi-component nature, the pharmaceutical delivery behavior of GP remains difficult to evaluate using conventional methods. Therefore, this study aimed to establish an integrated structure-release-permeation-pharmacokinetic evaluation framework to systematically characterize the transdermal delivery behavior of GP. Methods: GP was evaluated using multi-level analysis, including microstructural imaging (FESEM), in vitro release, ex vivo skin permeation, and in vivo dual-site microdialysis. Four representative bioactive compounds (sinomenine, osthole, cinnamaldehyde, and imperatorin) were selected as marker compounds. Release data were fitted to kinetic models, and structure-release relationships were examined using the Higuchi release constant (k_h). Skin-barrier alterations were assessed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Local concentrations in subcutaneous (SC) and intra-articular (IA) compartments were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to explore potential in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC). Results: FESEM revealed a fibrous-oil network structure. GP exhibited sustained, diffusion-dominated release, with k_h = 0.9908-0.9977 and Korsmeyer-Peppas (K-P) release exponents (n) = 0.61-0.66, differing from active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) controls. Fiber area fraction and fiber length density showed negative correlations with k_h (r = -0.91 to -0.99); ex vivo permeation profiles varied among compounds, and ATR-FTIR and DSC analyses showed moderate changes in skin-barrier properties. Dual-site microdialysis demonstrated sustained local exposure, and a positive relationship was observed between in vitro release and in vivo concentrations. Conclusions: This study establishes an integrated structure-release-permeation-pharmacokinetic evaluation framework for traditional black plaster systems. The observed IVIVC is descriptive rather than predictive, reflecting a trend-level association under the current experimental conditions. These findings highlight the importance of integrating in vitro release, skin permeation, and local pharmacokinetics for understanding drug delivery behavior in complex transdermal matrix systems, and provide a methodological basis for quality consistency evaluation of traditional black plaster formulations.