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1765419 
Journal Article 
Penetration Enhancing Effect of Polysorbate 20 and 80 on the In Vitro Percutaneous Absorption of L-Ascorbic Acid 
Akhtar, N; Rehman, MU; Khan, HMS; Rasool, F; Saeed, T; Murtaza, G 
2011 
1 
Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
ISSN: 1596-5996 
10 
3 
281-288 
WOS:000298173600007 
Purpose: To investigate the penetration enhancing effect of
two polysorbates - polyoxyethylene 20 (POE-20) and polyoxyethylene 80 (POE-80) - on the in vitro
percutaneous absorption of ascorbic acid (AA). Methods: For the permeation experiments, Franz
diffusion cell covered with aluminum foil providing an effective diffusion area of 1.76 cm(2) and
hairless rabbit skin were used. A range of concentrations (1 - 5 %) of POE-20 and POE-80 was
added to the ascorbic acid to determine their optimum enhancement concentration. Results: The
cumulative amount of AA that diffused across the skin increased with increase in the
concentration of the permeation enhancers. Without the enhancer, AA flux was 0.626 mu g/cm(2)/h
while mean permeability coefficient (K(p)) was 2.09 x 10(-6) cm/h. AA flux was 3.17 and 2.44 mu
g/cm(2)/h for POE-20 and POE-80, respectively, while mean permeability coefficient was 10.6 x 10
(-6) and 8.14 x 10(-6) K(p), cm/h. Maximum flux (3.16 mu g/cm(2)/h) at POE-20 concentration of 5
% was obtained, with an enhancement ratio (ER) of 5.07 in relation to control (i.e., AA without
enhancer). For POE-80 (5 %), maximum flux was 2.44 mu g/cm(2)/h with an ER value of 3.89,
compared to control. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that POE-20 and POE-80 exerted a
penetration enhancing effect on the percutaneous absorption of L-ascorbic acid (AA). 
L-Ascorbic acid; Skin permeation; Polyoxyethylene (Polysorbate); Flux; Penetration enhancers