1: Pharm Res. 2008 Jan;25(1):87-103. Epub 2007 Nov 6.

In vivo methods for the assessment of topical drug bioavailability.

Herkenne C, Alberti I, Naik A, Kalia YN, Mathy FX, Préat V, Guy RH.

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, 30 quai E. Ansermet,
CH-1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland.

This paper reviews some current methods for the in vivo assessment of local
cutaneous bioavailability in humans after topical drug application. After an
introduction discussing the importance of local drug bioavailability assessment
and the limitations of model-based predictions, the focus turns to the relevance 
of experimental studies. The available techniques are then reviewed in detail,
with particular emphasis on the tape stripping and microdialysis methodologies.
Other less developed techniques, including the skin biopsy, suction blister,
follicle removal and confocal Raman spectroscopy techniques are also described.

PMID: 17985216 [PubMed - in process]

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