Assessment of Transdermal Delivery of Topical Compounds in Skin Scarring Using a Novel Combined Approach of Raman Spectroscopy and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

The goal of any topical formulation is efficient transdermal delivery of its active components. However, delivery of compounds can be problematic with penetration through tough layers of fibrotic dermal scar tissue. We propose a new approach combining high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) using a topical of unknown composition against a well-known antiscar topical (as control).

Functional Testing of a Skin Topical Formulation : Objective and Quantitative Evaluation in Human Skin Scarring Using a Double-Blind Volunteer Study with Sequential Punch Biopsies.

Many topicals claim an efficacious role in skin scar management with limited evidence. Our aim is to present a clear format for functional testing of a skin scarring ointment, using noninvasive and invasive measurements, categorizing findings under the physiological, structural, and mechanical parameters of a scar. A double-blinded, randomized volunteer research study of 45 subjects receiving an ointment composing of natural ingredients against a widely used antiscarring topical used as a positive control with temporal sequential punch biopsies (up to 16 weeks) was evaluated using noninvasive quantitative devices and validated by gene and protein studies.