TY - JOUR

T1 - Towards a simplified model membrane of skin lipids

T2 - preparation and characterisation of a ternary lipid mixture

AU - Ghonaim, Hassan M.

AU - Periasamy, Nagarajan

AU - Noro, Massimo G.

AU - Anwar, Jamshed

PY - 2014/4

Y1 - 2014/4

N2 - Objective: To develop a simple but a robust model membrane comprising the key generic components of the skin lipid matrix. Methods: We prepared a model membrane comprising an equimolar mixture of ceramide [NS], palmitic acid, and cholesterol. The membrane was deposited on a solid porous substrate (50 nm porous polycarbonate filter) as a continuous lamellar layer. The membrane’s biophysical properties were characterized and the permeability of the membrane to both benzoic acid and caffeine evaluated. Results: The deposited membrane’s biophysical properties were characterized using a variety of methods including Laurdan fluorescence spectroscopy, SEM, and Raman scattering. The permeability co-efficients (kp) of the model membrane to benzoic acid and the hydrophilic molecule caffeine were determined to be of the same order of magnitude as that through real stratum corneum. Conclusions: A simple but robust model membrane for skin lipids has been developed that can be deposited to give a continuous coverage on a porous substrate. It’s permeability to caffeine and benzoic acid has been found to be of the same order as that of real stratum corneum. The model membrane will be invaluable for fundamental mechanistic studies (e.g. effect of penetration enhancers) that can be linked with molecular simulations.

AB - Objective: To develop a simple but a robust model membrane comprising the key generic components of the skin lipid matrix. Methods: We prepared a model membrane comprising an equimolar mixture of ceramide [NS], palmitic acid, and cholesterol. The membrane was deposited on a solid porous substrate (50 nm porous polycarbonate filter) as a continuous lamellar layer. The membrane’s biophysical properties were characterized and the permeability of the membrane to both benzoic acid and caffeine evaluated. Results: The deposited membrane’s biophysical properties were characterized using a variety of methods including Laurdan fluorescence spectroscopy, SEM, and Raman scattering. The permeability co-efficients (kp) of the model membrane to benzoic acid and the hydrophilic molecule caffeine were determined to be of the same order of magnitude as that through real stratum corneum. Conclusions: A simple but robust model membrane for skin lipids has been developed that can be deposited to give a continuous coverage on a porous substrate. It’s permeability to caffeine and benzoic acid has been found to be of the same order as that of real stratum corneum. The model membrane will be invaluable for fundamental mechanistic studies (e.g. effect of penetration enhancers) that can be linked with molecular simulations.

KW - Ceramide

KW - Stratum corneum substitute

KW - Caffeine

KW - Benzoic acid, Skin permeability

KW - In vitro permeation

KW - Model membrane

M3 - Journal article

VL - 6

SP - 148

EP - 152

JO - International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

JF - International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SN - 0975-1491

IS - 2

ER -