Transdermal drug delivery in horses: an in vitro comparison of skin structure and permeation of two model drugs at various anatomical sites

Bizley, S. C., Dudhia, J., Smith, R. K. W. and Williams, A. C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3654-7916 (2023) Transdermal drug delivery in horses: an in vitro comparison of skin structure and permeation of two model drugs at various anatomical sites. Veterinary Dermatology, 34 (3). pp. 235-245. ISSN 1365-3164 doi: 10.1111/vde.13162

Abstract/Summary

Abstract Background Oral and parenteral drug delivery in horses can be difficult. Equine-specific transdermal drug formulations offer improved ease of treatment; development of such formulations requires a deeper understanding of the structural and chemical tissue barrier of horse skin. Hypothesis/Objectives To compare the structural composition and barrier properties of equine skin. Animals Six warmblood horses (two males, four females) with no skin diseases. Materials and Methods Routine histological and microscopic analyses were carried out with image analysis for skin from six different anatomical locations. In vitro drug permeation was analysed using a standard Franz diffusion cell protocol coupled with reversed phase-high-performance liquid chromatography detailing flux, lag times and tissue partitioning ratios of two model drug compounds. Results Epidermal and dermal thicknesses varied between sites. The dermal and epidermal thicknesses of the croup were 1764 ± 115 μm and 36 ± 3.6 μm, respectively, and were significantly different (p < 0.05) from the inner thigh thicknesses which were 824 ± 35 μm and 49 ± 3.6 μm. Follicular density and size also varied. The highest flux for the model hydrophilic molecule (caffeine) was for the flank (3.22 ± 0.36 μg/cm2/h), while that for the lipophilic molecule (ibuprofen) was for the inner thigh (0.12 ± 0.02 μg/cm2/h). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Anatomical location differences in equine skin structure and small molecule permeability were demonstrated. These results can aid in the development of transdermal therapies for horses.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/111908
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy > Pharmaceutics Research Group
Publisher	Wiley
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