Effect of oleic acid on diffusion of drugs through hairless mouse skin.

The effect of oleic acid in propylene glycol or 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol vehicle systems on the skin permeability of 17 beta-estradiol, triamcinolone acetonide and trifluorothymidine was studied in vitro. The largest enhancement was obtained from a vehicle containing oleic acid in propylene glycol and the enhancement increased with increasing aqueous solubility of the drug. Oleic acid gave far less enhancement when propylene glycol was replaced by 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol.