title: Enhancement of optical skin clearing efficacy using a microneedle roller.
abstract: Light scattering in biological tissues can be reduced by using optical clearing agents. Various physical methods in conjunction with agents have been studied to enhance the optical clearing efficacy of skin for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. In this study, we propose a new physical method to enhance the optical clearing potential of topically applied glycerol. A microneedle roller is used to easily create numerous transdermal microchannels prior to glycerol application. The optical clearing efficacy of skin is quantitatively evaluated with the use of a modulation transfer function target placed underneath ex vivo porcine skin samples. From cross-polarized images acquired at various time points after glycerol application, we find that samples treated with the microneedle roller resulted in an approximately two-fold increase in contrast compared to control samples 30 min after glycerol application. In conclusion, our data suggest that the microneedle roller can be a good physical method to enhance transdermal delivery of optical clearing agents, and hence their optical clearing potential over large regions of skin.
authors.affiliation: Yonsei University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Taeyoon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Eung-Ho
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: J Stuart
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Byungjo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005990:Glycerol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008845:Microinjections / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D012031:Refractometry; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005990:Glycerol