Transdermal drug delivery is a pain-free, non-invasive alternative to other parenteral options such as injection and infusion that similarly avoids first-pass metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract. Gels, semisolids, and patches for transdermal drug delivery enjoy high patient acceptance and are used routinely for the sustained delivery of hormones and drugs for the relief of nausea and pain. Absorption through the stratum corneum is a critical first, and often rate-limiting step, and an important focus during formulation, creating a need for relevant testing. Traditional in vitro permeability methods provide useful data but tend to be relatively low throughput Higher throughput assays are therefore highly desirable. This article discusses the use of a novel Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) with a design amenable to automation and high throughput testing to assess the permeability of a model compound in various solvents. Data comparison with analogous results measured with ex vivo pig skin, an accepted alternative to human skin, demonstrates the utility and relevance of the applied method.
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