The effect of various fatty acids or alcohols on the penetration rates and skin concentrations of cyclosporin A (Sandimmune; CyA) was evaluated in an in vitro model using skin of hairless rats. The influence of chain length, number and position of double bonds and branching of the carbon chain of the enhancer were investigated. In addition the penetration dependency of CyA on the concentration of both enhancer and CyA was studied. CyA was quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The penetration rates of CyA through rat skin decreased with increasing number of double bonds of the enhancer and decreasing CyA concentrations in the donor solution, and increased with increasing chain length of the enhancer. Enhancers increase penetration rates by a factor of up to 20–90 in alcoholic vs. maximally 5-fold in oily compositions. Enhancers increase skin concentrations of CyA by a factor of up to 10–25 in alcoholic and about 4–20 in oily compositions.

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