Visualization and analysis of electroosmotic flow in hairless mouse skin.

PURPOSE

To identify the physiological structures in hairless mouse skin responsible for the generation of electroosmotic flow during iontophoresis. Also, to determine the effects of changing the pH of the contacting solution on the magnitude of electroosmotic flow in these structures.

METHODS

Localized diffusive and iontophoretic fluxes of a neutral molecule, hydroquinone (HQ), across hairless mouse skin were quantified using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The iontophoretic flux was determined as a function of the direction of the applied current and pH of the contacting solution.

RESULTS

SECM images of HQ transport recorded during iontophoresis at moderate current densities (+/-0.1 mA/cm2) demonstrate that electroosmotic flow is localized to hair follicles. The direction of flow is from anode to cathode at pH > 3.5 and from cathode to anode at pH <3.5.

CONCLUSIONS

Electroosmotic flow through hair follicles is an efficient and controllable means of transporting small, electrically neutral molecules across hairless mouse skin. Transport through the appendages is sensitive to the pH of the solution in contact with the skin. The isoelectric point of hair follicles, pI, is estimated to be 3.5 from the dependence of electroosmotic flow on the solution pH.