A microscopic multiphase diffusion model of viable epidermis permeability

Nitsche, JM; Kasting, GB

HERO ID

5925959

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2013

Language

English

PMID

23708370

HERO ID 5925959
In Press No
Year 2013
Title A microscopic multiphase diffusion model of viable epidermis permeability
Authors Nitsche, JM; Kasting, GB
Journal Biophysical Journal
Volume 104
Issue 10
Page Numbers 2307-2320
Abstract A microscopic model of passive transverse mass transport of small solutes in the viable epidermal layer of human skin is formulated on the basis of a hexagonal array of cells (i.e., keratinocytes) bounded by 4-nm-thick, anisotropic lipid bilayers and separated by 1-μm layers of extracellular fluid. Gap junctions and tight junctions with adjustable permeabilities are included to modulate the transport of solutes with low membrane permeabilities. Two keratinocyte aspect ratios are considered to represent basal and spinous cells (longer) and granular cells (more flattened). The diffusion problem is solved in a unit cell using a coordinate system conforming to the hexagonal cross section, and an efficient two-dimensional treatment is applied to describe transport in both the cell membranes and intercellular spaces, given their thinness. Results are presented in terms of an effective diffusion coefficient, D¯¯¯epi, and partition coefficient, K¯¯¯epi/w, for a homogenized representation of the microtransport problem. Representative calculations are carried out for three small solutes—water, l-glucose, and hydrocortisone—covering a wide range of membrane permeability. The effective transport parameters and their microscopic interpretation can be employed within the context of existing three-layer models of skin transport to provide more realistic estimates of the epidermal concentrations of topically applied solutes.
Doi 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.03.056
Pmid 23708370
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English