In-vitro permeation of some beta-blockers across the hairless mouse skin.

To support the development of a suitable transdermal dosage form for beta-blockers, in-vitro, skin permeation studies of nine beta-blockers were conducted at 37 degrees C across the excised abdominal skin of hairless mouse mounted on the receptor compartment of a two-chambered Valia-Chien glass diffusion cell. The drugs varied in lipophilicity, whereas pKa values were comparable. Permeability coefficients were calculated from the steady-state flux values. Agreement was found between the permeability coefficient and the drug lipophilicity, expressed as the octanol-buffer distribution coefficient.