Scientific Committee

Biography

The study of dermatokinetics requires accurate, non-destructive techniques to quantify the concentration of active substances in the skin over time. To this goal several key spectroscopic methods have been developed, including Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), Fluorescence Spectroscopy (FS), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), and Raman Spectroscopy. DRS measures the absorption of light by the drug in the tissue to quantify its permeated concentration. FS leverages the fluorescence properties of certain molecules to track their penetration and measure their effects, particularly for substances that naturally fluoresce or can be tagged with fluorescent markers. Fourier Transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy, enhanced by Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) probes, provides detailed information on molecular vibrations and is particularly useful for studying the stratum corneum (SC), the outermost skin layer. Raman Spectroscopy offers detailed molecular information and can be used in a confocal arrangement for depth profiling, making it ideal for non-invasive studies of drug penetration. Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (PAS) and higher-order optical spectroscopies such as Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) and Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS) provide high spatial resolution and are useful for imaging skin structures and visualizing drug penetration. Each method has its advantages and limitations, with DRS being cost-effective but potentially nonspecific, FS being rapid but limited to fluorescent compounds, ATR-FTIR providing specific signals but requiring tape stripping, and Raman Spectroscopy offering depth profiling but using expensive instrumentation. It is important to emphasize the need for validation studies and comparisons between different techniques to improve accuracy and reliability. Overall, spectroscopic methods provide rapid, non-invasive means to dynamically study skin penetration kinetics, offering valuable insights for both clinical and research applications in dermatology.