A multilayer membrane system for modelling drug penetration into skin

A new model system for modelling drug penetration profiles in human skin is presented with a multilayer membrane system as receptor. For this purpose, membranes were used with dodecanol (DD) as lipid and collodion as matrix. The variability of the model system was demonstrated by the addition of propylene glycol and by changing the DD content of the membrane. Dithranol (DT) was used as a model drug. The penetration of DT was found to take place rapidly into two-, three- and six-layer membrane systems. The penetration profiles of DT in the six-layer membrane systems could be controlled by varying the DD content of the first membrane and by the use of intermediate propylene glycol membranes. Consequently, it was possible to adapt the penetration profiles of DT in the multilayer membrane system to those in human skin.