Influence of in vitro methods, receptor fluids on percutaneous absorption and validation of a novel in vitro method.

In vitro experiment using excised skin has been valuable for studying the mechanism of percutaneous absorption. Based on previously established static diffusion cell system in this laboratory, a novel model-perfused glass diffusion cell system is designed. The results of initial comparative study on percutaneous absorption between glass perfused diffusion cell and static diffusion cell, in vitro and in vivo permeation as well as factors affecting permeation with seven radiolabelled chemicals are presented. The results demonstrate that the perfused diffusion cell system, which used a perfusion fluid below the surface of skin to take up the materials which penetrated the skin, is more similar to physiologic condition, convenient and automatic than that of the static cell. It well predicts the in vivo percutaneous absorption if appropriate receptor fluid is chosen. The results also show that the selection of receptor fluid is critical for in vitro permeation of chemicals with different solubility.