Skin structure and metabolism: relevance to the design of cutaneous therapeutics

D A Bucks

doi:10.1023/A:1016340423079

Skin structure and metabolism: relevance to the design of cutaneous therapeutics

Pharm Res. 1984 Jul;1(4):148-53. doi: 10.1023/A:1016340423079.

Author

D A Bucks¹

Affiliation

¹ Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143.

PMID: 24277282
DOI: 10.1023/A:1016340423079

Abstract

The outer layer of the epidermis or stratum corneum is the major barrier to percutaneous absorption. It has been shown that there are numerous enzyme systems beneath the stratum corneum in the viable epidermis capable of metabolizing drugs. A number of prodrug and soft drug topical therapeutic agents have been designed. After these agents penetrate the stratum corneum, they are metabolized by the cutaneous esterase systems to the desired metabolites.