Determination of Permeation Pathway of Gentamicin into Pig's Ear Skin

In a 2015 study, researchers explored how gentamicin permeates pig ear skin by comparing its absorption in skin samples with open hair follicles (non-plugged) and blocked hair follicles (plugged). They used a Franz-type diffusion cell and UV spectrophotometry for analysis over a 24-hour period. The study found that non-plugged skin allowed 44.8% more gentamicin to permeate than plugged skin, demonstrating that hair follicles significantly enhance drug penetration. The results, with a p-value < 0.05, indicated that the follicular route is a crucial pathway for drug delivery through the skin. This finding has implications for the development of treatments targeting hair follicles. However, the study was specific to gentamicin, and further research with different substances is needed to generalize the role of hair follicles in drug penetration.