Skin integrity testing and monitoring of in vitro tape stripping by capacitance-based sensor imaging.
BACKGROUND
Despite the frequent use of porcine ear skin for tape-stripping experiments, the peculiarities of this skin type have not been characterised in detail yet. Thus, different techniques were employed to investigate the skin surface structure of porcine ear skin and the changes in barrier function during in vitro tape stripping. To this end, the potential of capacitance-based skin hydration imaging as a means of skin quality control was investigated for the first time.


METHODS
The porcine ear model was characterised before and during tape stripping using transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements, capacitance-based sensor imaging, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and optical light microscopy.


RESULTS
The capacitance-based sensor was found to deliver precise information about the quality of the employed skin sites before and during tape stripping. The removal of stratum corneum proteins was highly reproducible even for different porcine ear types. The mean greyscale values showed an excellent linear correlation to the corresponding TEWL values and the respective penetration depth. Optical light microscopy confirmed the presence of canyons on the surface of porcine ear skin.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the capacitance-based sensor is a suitable tool for skin integrity testing of porcine ear skin in vitro and for monitoring changes in skin barrier function.
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Victoria
V
Klang
Julia C
JC
Schwarz
Silvia
S
Haberfeld
Perry
P
Xiao
Michael
M
Wirth
Claudia
C
Valenta
D000818:Animals; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods*; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004431:Ear, External; D025802:Electric Capacitance; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008954:Models, Biological; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D053832:Surgical Tape / Q000009:adverse effects; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible
D011506:Proteins; D014867:Water