Engineering skin microphysiological systems for transdermal drug screening based on strategic model selection and...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Pharmacology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) are increasingly important, necessitating advanced screening platforms.
• Conventional methods like Franz diffusion cells fail to replicate dynamic in vivo processes.
• Human skin physiology requires complex, dynamic models for accurate drug evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the technical significance and applications of skin microphysiological systems (MPS) for transdermal drug screening.
• To critically assess the limitations of current ex vivo and in vitro methods.
• To highlight the advantages of MPS in recapitulating skin physiology for drug assessment.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of skin microphysiological systems (MPS) design, evaluation metrics, and applications.
• Classification of MPS based on vascularization and flow conditions.
• Analysis of skin structure, permeation pathways, and physiological determinants of absorption.

Main Results:

• Skin MPS enhance the accuracy of permeability assessment compared to conventional methods.
• MPS enable more physiologically relevant evaluations of drug efficacy and toxicity.
• The strategic selection of MPS architecture is key for specific research objectives.

Conclusions:

• Skin MPS represent a significant advancement for transdermal drug screening platforms.
• Future directions include integrating MPS data with PBPK models for quantitative prediction.
• Challenges remain in standardization, structural fidelity, and regulatory translation for MPS adoption.