In Silico Study on the Contribution of the Follicular Route to Dermal Permeability of Small Molecules

February 2024 in “ Pharmaceutical research ”

Daniel Sebastia‐Saez, Guoping Lian, Tao Chen

hair follicle dermal permeability lipophilicity molecular weight protein binding follicular route dermal permeation in vivo in vitro

Studysummary In this in silico study, researchers found that the hair follicle's contribution to dermal permeability of small molecules varies with the lipophilic and hydrophilic properties of substances, highlighting the need for careful characterization of substances filling the follicular route when interpreting experimental permeability data.

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The in silico study explored how the hair follicle affects the dermal permeability of small molecules, focusing on the impact of properties like lipophilicity, molecular weight, and protein binding. The findings suggest that the follicular route's contribution to dermal permeation varies significantly based on the substance's characteristics within the follicle and the permeant itself. The study concludes that understanding the substance within the follicle is crucial for accurate interpretation of experimental data on dermal permeation, as the difference between in vivo and in vitro conditions can alter the follicular route's role, complicating the analysis of such data.

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Research cited in this study

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research Contribution of the Hair Follicular Pathway to Total Skin Permeation of Topically Applied and Exposed Chemicals

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research Permeation of Topically Applied Magnesium Ions Through Human Skin Is Facilitated by Hair Follicles

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This review summarizes recent advancements in follicular targeting for drug delivery via hair follicles and calls for pilot studies in humans to explore potential clinical applications.

research The Role of Hair Follicles in the Percutaneous Absorption of Caffeine

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82 citations , January 2002 in “Journal of drug targeting”

This study found that drug delivery through human scalp skin may be more effective for lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs compared to abdominal skin, highlighting the potential of intrafollicular delivery methods.

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