A comparative study of automated and manual fraction collectors of static diffusion cells for in vitro skin permeation studies / Aisyah Abdul Aziz

Caffeine is being increasingly used in cosmetics due to its biological activity and ability to penetrate the skin barrier. This alkaloid is frequently used as a hydrophilic model substance for in vivo and in vitro permeation studies. As for a cosmetic purpose, caffeine has potent antioxidant properties that can help protect cells against the UV radiation and commonly used in the sunblock product as well as to reduce the dark circles under the eye by increase the microcirculation of the blood in the skin. The permeation of caffeine through the skin test can be measured by in-vivo and in-vitro techniques. In-vitro techniques are generally used due to simple experimental conditions and it should be done closely mimic in vivo conditions so that can be extrapolated. Franz diffusion cell is widely used static design for studying in-vitro permeation if the permeation of the drug across the skin will not result in a concentration of> I 0% of the maximal solubility in the receptor fluid. Therefore, two types of static Franz diffusion cell have been used in this study that are automated and manual Franz diffusion cell with the same condition in both experiments. However, there is significant different of permeation profiles between the two types of static Franz diffusion cell that have been used in this research. The objective of this project is to assess the permeation profile of caffeine across a synthetic membrane by using two different fraction collectors (manual versus automatic) of static diffusion cells for in vitro permeation studies.