IN-VITRO TAPE STRIPPING AS A MODEL FOR IN-VIVO SKIN STRIPPING

Tape stripping is a useful technique to assess the distribution and am ount of chemical in the stratum corneum (SC). The aim of this work was to develop an in vitro model that could be used to predict the result s of in vivo skin stripping. Tape stripping experiments were carried o ut in vivo with the lipophilic penetrant fluazifop-butyl (FB) as part of a human volunteer study. Tape stripping was carried out at three ti me points after dosing. In vitro experiments were performed to match c onditions in the in vitro experiment, using human epidermal membranes in static diffusion cells. By analysing the amount of penetrant in eac h pool of strips, the concentration profiles and the total amount of p enetrant within the SC were determined from both in vivo and in vitro experiments. The concentration profiles demonstrate that the amount of penetrant decreases with increasing depth into the stratum corneum. T he in vitro and in vivo profiles and total recovery of FB were found t o be similar. These data suggest in vitro tape stripping provides a go od model for the in vivo situation.