Interrelation of permeation and penetration parameters obtained from in vitro experiments with human skin and skin equivalents.

In a comparative study, two different in vitro cutaneous test systems were examined: (1) The Franz diffusion cell (FD-C), a test system to study drug permeation through the skin and to obtain data like steady state flux and lag time as well as permeability and diffusion coefficients. (2) The Saarbruecken penetration model (SB-M), a test system to investigate drug penetration into different skin layers and after varying incubation times to acquire values about the quasi steady state drug amounts in the stratum corneum (SC). Three drug concentrations (0.9, 0.45 and 0.225%) of a lipophilic model drug preparation, flufenamic acid in wool alcohols ointment, were applied on the skin's surface using 'infinite dose' conditions. Trypsin-isolated SC, heat-separated epidermis, full-thickness skin and reconstructed human skin (RHS) served as skin membranes in the FD-C, while the SB-M experiments were only carried out using full-thickness skin. Increasing steady state flux data and m(ss) values (steady state drug amount in the SC) were detectable after the application of rising drug amounts. Concerning the permeability of the used skin membranes in establishing barrier properties, the following rank order was observed: RHS>SC> or =epidermis>full skin. The flux data of the FD-C experiments for isolated SC, separated epidermis and RHS were linearly related with the m(ss) values of the SB-M investigations, allowing a direct comparison of permeation with penetration parameters. Concerning the drug amount in the SC, previous investigations succeeded in the establishment of an in vivo/in vitro correlation. Based on the results presented here, the prediction of drug amounts present in the SC after different incubation times in vivo is now possible after penetration as well as permeation experiments using the lipophilic model drug preparation, flufenamic acid in wool alcohols ointment.