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ANANBIOANAL - 2010
Pharmaceutical R & D Summit
doi:10.4172/2155-9872.1000010
Enhancement of Skin Permeation: the Metabolic Approach
Bijaya Ghosh
KLE University’s College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, India
T
o enhance the skin permeability of a drug, the barrier function of the skin must be
overcome at least temporarily. The barrier function of stratum corneum –the rate
limiting membrane for skin permeation, depends upon the quality and quantity of its
constituent lipids and a decrease in their concentration affects its barrier properties. In
general, barrier disruption is followed by quick recovery responses. In the metabolic
approach, permeation rate is enhanced by delaying this natural recovery processes
by application of chemicals/drugs that interfere with the skin metabolism. However,
to use this strategy, one has to have a clear understanding of the constituents
of the skin as well as the mechanism of Skin homeostasis. The present article
discusses some important aspects related to it. 1) the liquid crystalline nature of
stratum corneum (the cholesterol and ceramides) 2) the biophysical aspects of the
barrier lipids, 3) the sequence of events at stratum granulosum-stratum corneum
interface, 4) role of different enzymes/ drugs (HMGCoA Reductase inhibitors) that
interfere with barrier recovery and thereby enhance permeation rate of drugs.
Important research on this aspect is also analyzed along with the advantages and
limitations of the strategy.
ANALBIOANAL-2010
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