Comparison of Franz cells and microdialysis for assessing salicylic acid penetration through human skin.

The purpose of the present study was to compare Franz cells (FC) and microdialysis (MD) for monitoring the skin absorption of salicylic acid (SA). The influence of pH on SA flux was also assessed by these two techniques. Excised abdominal human skin was used in the experiments. SA was dissolved in phosphate buffer solutions of pH 2, 5 and 7 (2 mg/ml). SA concentrations in the receptor FC solutions and in MD samples were assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results demonstrate that the flux of SA decreased with increased pH. The profiles permeation determined by Franz cells and microdialysis were similar. However, whatever the pH, the SA flux was higher with microdialysis than with Franz cells. The results showed that SA percutaneous permeation conformed to the pH partition hypothesis. The flux of SA was different when it was determined by the two techniques. The collect of SA, by these two techniques is different. The results of the two techniques are compared and discussed.