The stratum corneum (SC), the most superficial layer of the skin, is directly responsible for the skin's barrier function. The SC is composed of dead keratinised cells embedded in a continuous extracellular lipid structure. The skin's function is largely dependent on the SC's water balance. The intercellular lipids in the SC play an important role in the regulation of the skin's water-holding capacity. The modification of the intercellular lipid organisation and composition may impair these properties. The primary aim of this work was to analyse the differences in water sorption and desorption of SC samples with intact and modified lipid structures. Absorption and desorption curves were obtained using a thermogravimetric balance equipped with a controlled humidity chamber. Lower water contents were found for all lipid-modified SC samples. The evaluation of the kinetics of moisture uptake and loss demonstrated that when SC lipids were modified, the resultant samples reached equilibrium in less time and had higher diffusion coefficients, indicative of the deterioration of the SC tissue and higher permeability. TEM visualisation of the samples confirmed the modification of the lipids of the SC samples treated with organic solvents and surfactants.

Effect of lipid modification on stratum corneum permeability

SEMENZATO, ALESSANDRA;
2015

Abstract

The stratum corneum (SC), the most superficial layer of the skin, is directly responsible for the skin's barrier function. The SC is composed of dead keratinised cells embedded in a continuous extracellular lipid structure. The skin's function is largely dependent on the SC's water balance. The intercellular lipids in the SC play an important role in the regulation of the skin's water-holding capacity. The modification of the intercellular lipid organisation and composition may impair these properties. The primary aim of this work was to analyse the differences in water sorption and desorption of SC samples with intact and modified lipid structures. Absorption and desorption curves were obtained using a thermogravimetric balance equipped with a controlled humidity chamber. Lower water contents were found for all lipid-modified SC samples. The evaluation of the kinetics of moisture uptake and loss demonstrated that when SC lipids were modified, the resultant samples reached equilibrium in less time and had higher diffusion coefficients, indicative of the deterioration of the SC tissue and higher permeability. TEM visualisation of the samples confirmed the modification of the lipids of the SC samples treated with organic solvents and surfactants.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3182380
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