title: Reconstructed skin models as emerging tools for drug absorption studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As humans can come into contact with xenobiotics intentionally or accidentally, knowledge about the skin absorption of these substances is crucial and requires reliable models and test procedures. Animal experiments should be avoided whenever possible, instead of making the use of in vitro systems. Furthermore, due to limited availability of normal and especially diseased human skin, alternative test systems such as reconstructed skin models are urgently required.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article discusses the advantages and limitations of excised human skin, animal skin and reconstructed skin models for absorption testing in vitro. Furthermore, the authors also describe the standard procedure for skin absorption testing and give an excursion to the applicability of artificial membranes. Finally, the article highlights the progress in the development of reconstructed disease models and provides an extensive overview about past and ongoing research in this field.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development and validation of in vitro systems for skin absorption testing is inevitable. More research efforts are required for the development of reconstructed disease models. Reconstructed skin models need to be improved, especially in terms of complexity to mimic the in vivo situation better. It should not, however, be the main goal to imitate the in vivo situation exactly, but to establish reliable systems that ensure predictive and reliable data.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Freie Universität , Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, 14195, Berlin , Germany +49 30 838 55065 ; +49 30 838 53944 ; sarah.kuechler@fu-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Küchler
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strüver
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Friess
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D010539:Permeability; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D015262:Xenobiotics