Application of Quantitative 19F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Tape-Stripping Experiments with Natural Microemulsions

Simultaneous analysis of skin penetration of surfactant and active drug from fluorosurfactant-based microemulsions

The purpose of this study was to investigate the penetrated amount of the incorporated model drug diclofenac-sodium and of a fluorosurfactant as specific vehicle constituent of topically applied microemulsions at the same time. To this end, the penetration depth of each compound was elucidated through tape stripping studies by the simultaneous quantification of diclofenac-sodium and the fluorosurfactant from the same sample. A new approach was made by using the very sensitive and specific (19)F NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) for quantification of the fluorinated vehicle component. The tape stripping experiments with the microemulsions showed an almost similar penetration velocity of diclofenac-sodium and fluorosurfactant, suggesting that the surfactant within the microemulsion-structure intensified the stratum corneum uptake of the incorporated active constituent. Moreover, ATR-FTIR studies on porcine ear skin revealed significant shifts of the CH₂ stretching absorbances, which are associated with an enhanced disorder of the SC lipids resulting in a decreased skin barrier function, after application of the microemulsions. However, the application of pure fluorosurfactant did not cause any shifts in the CH₂ stretching absorbances. It can be thereby concluded that the prepared microemulsions exerted specific effects on skin integrity resulting in a "push" of diclofenac-sodium penetration.