Investigation of Drug Partition Property in Artificial Sebum

The study aimed to develop a method for determining the sebum partition coefficient (Ksebum) to predict drug delivery into hair and sebaceous follicles. Researchers measured the partition coefficients of 11 model drugs in artificial sebum/water and human stratum corneum/water at 37°C. They found that Ksebum varied significantly from the stratum corneum/water partition coefficient (Ksc) and the calculated octanol-water partition coefficient (clog P), with some drugs showing higher affinity for sebum. A poor correlation was observed between log Ksebum, log Ksc, and clog P for most compounds, except for a strong linear relationship in the 4-hydroxybenzoate series. Ketoconazole had the highest Ksebum value, suggesting it is more likely to be transported through sebaceous and hair follicles, while minoxidil had a lower value, indicating transport through the stratum corneum. The study concluded that Ksebum is a critical parameter for predicting drug delivery into hair and sebaceous follicles, and it provides more relevant information than traditional partition coefficients. The study involved a small number of samples, with n=6 for Ksebum and n=3 for Ksc.