Belsey, N; Dexter, A; Vorng, J-L; Tsikritsis, D; Nikula, C J; Murta, T; Tiddia, M-V; Zhang, J; Gurdak, E; Trindade, G F; Gilmore, I S; Page, L; Roper, C S; Guy, R H; Bettex, M B (2023) Visualisation of drug distribution in skin using correlative optical spectroscopy and mass spectrometry imaging. Journal of Controlled Release, 364. pp. 79-89.

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Abstract

A correlative methodology for label-free chemical imaging of soft tissue has been developed, combining nonlinear optical spectroscopies and mass spectrometry to achieve sub-micron spatial resolution and critically improved drug detection sensitivity. The approach was applied to visualise the kinetics of drug reservoir formation within human skin following in vitro topical treatment with a commercial diclofenac gel. Non-destructive optical spectroscopic techniques, stimulated Raman scattering, second harmonic generation and two photon fluorescence microscopies, were used to provide chemical and structural contrast. The same tissue sections were subsequently analysed by secondary ion mass spectrometry, which offered higher sensitivity for diclofenac detection throughout the epidermis and dermis. A method was developed to combine the optical and mass spectrometric datasets using image registration techniques. The label-free, high-resolution visualisation of tissue structure coupled with sensitive chemical detection offers a powerful method for drug biodistribution studies in the skin that impact directly on topical pharmaceutical product development.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Topical drug delivery; Diclofenac; Skin biodistribution; Stimulated Raman scattering microscopy; Secondary ion mass spectrometry; OrbiSIMS; Multiphoton imaging; Correlative imaging
Subjects:	Nanoscience > Surface and Nanoanalysis
Divisions:	Chemical & Biological Sciences
Identification number/DOI:	10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.10.026
Last Modified:	17 Jan 2024 14:45
URI:	https://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/9903