The Ultrastructural Changes of Stratum Corneum Lipids after Application of Oleic Acid in Propylene Glycol
Annals of Dermatology
;
: 153-158, 1998.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-49669
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The stratum corneum presents a significant barrier to transdermal drug delivery. Approaches to improve percutaneous absorption of drugs have included iontophoresis and skin penetration enhancers. Oleic acid has been studied as a skin penetration enhancer for drugs, primarily via its action mainly on the stratum corneum lipid structure.OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to assess the interaction between oleic acid and stratum corneum lipids in vivo.METHODS:
Male hairless mice were treated topically with oleic acid. Barrier function was assessed by transepidermal water loss measurement and ultrastructural observation with ruthenium tetroxide (RuO₄) staining.RESULTS:
Oleic acid in propylene glycol had a profound effect on epidermal barrier function and was found to be concentration dependent. Moreover, ultrastructural examination with RuO4 post-fixation demonstrated that there were marked alterations in the stratum corneum lipid structure.CONCLUSION:
This study provides direct evidence that oleic acid increases the epidermal permeability through a mechanism involving the stratum corneum lipid membrane perturbation via the lacunae formation within the stratum corneum.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Permeability
/
Ruthenium
/
Skin
/
Skin Absorption
/
Water
/
Iontophoresis
/
Oleic Acid
/
Propylene Glycol
/
Membranes
/
Mice, Hairless
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Annals of Dermatology
Year:
1998
Type:
Article
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