Permeation kinetics of ketotifen fumarate alone and in combination with hydrophobic permeation enhancers through human cadaver epidermis.

Permeation kinetics for ketotifen fumarate from transdermal system through hairless mice skin and hog skin have been reported. However, permeation of ketotifen fumarate through human skin is not available till date. In view of the above, permeation profile and related kinetic parameters of ketotifen fumarate alone and in presence of three compatible enhancers namely Myristic acid isopropyl ester, Palmitic acid propyl ester and Lauric acid propyl ester through normal and delipidized human cadaver have been reported in the present study. The observed permeability flux, permeation coefficient and epidermal partition coefficient through 50% dried human cadaver epidermis were found to increase in presence of the three enhancers, amongst which the effect was found to be maximum with Myristic acid isopropyl ester. The more pronounced enhancing effect of Myristic acid isopropyl ester regarding permeability flux, permeation coefficient, epidermal partition coefficient and diffusion coefficient was attributed with solubility parameter being nearer to the skin lipid solubility parameter and probably due to its passage across the skin barrier through the lipid pathway.