title: Optimization of microdermabrasion for controlled removal of stratum corneum.
abstract: Microdermabrasion has been shown to increase skin permeability for transdermal drug delivery by damaging or removing skin's outer layer, stratum corneum. However, relationships between microdermabrasion parameters and effects on the stratum corneum barrier have not been developed. In this study, we determined the effect of microdermabrasion crystal flow rate, time, and suction pressure applied in both static and dynamic modes on the extent of stratum corneum removal from excised porcine skin. In addition to controlling the depth of tissue removal by microdermabrasion parameters, we also controlled the area of tissue removal by applying a metal mask patterned with 125- or 250-μm holes to selectively expose small spots of tissue to microdermabrasion. We found that the extent of stratum corneum removal depended strongly on the crystal flow rate and exposure time and only weakly on pressure or static/dynamic mode operation. Masking the skin was effective to localize stratum corneum removal to exposed sites. Overall, this study demonstrates that optimized microdermabrasion in combination with a mask can be used to selectively remove stratum corneum with three-dimensional control, which is important to translating this technique into a novel method of transdermal drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zarnitsyn
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bondy
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prausnitz
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D003869:Dermabrasion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D010539:Permeability; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations