Comparison of fish skins as alternative biological skin models for skin permeability study

Abstract

Animal skins are generally used instead of human skin to evaluate drug percutaneous permeation due to ethical and practical reasons. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using fish skins, including trout (Salmo trutta), Norwegian salmon (Salmo salar), BIO salmon (Salmo salar), and bighead catfish (Clarias macrocephalus) as alternatives. Caffeine was selected as a model drug. The Franz-diffusion apparatus was used forin vitro skin permeation test, evaluating parameters such as cumulative permeation profile, permeation flux, permeation coefficient, and lag-time. Skin composition was determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that bighead catfish skin exhibited the highest cumulative caffeine permeation, while Norwegian salmon skin closely matched the skin permeability parameters of Strat-M®. Based on the permeability parameters and barrier compositions, Norwegian salmon skin demonstrated characteristics similar to Strat-M®.