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Diffusion through a responding lamellar liquid crystal : A model of molecular transport across stratum corneum

Sparr, Emma LU and Wennerström, Håkan LU (2000) In Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 19(2). p.103-116
Abstract

The outer part of the skin, stratum corneum, has an architecture of keratin filled cells, the corneocytes, embedded in stacked lipid bilayers. The lamellar structure provides an effective barrier to passive diffusion of small molecules and prevents uncontrolled water loss. In this paper, we present a theoretical model for molecular diffusional transport over an oriented stack of liquid crystalline bilayers in the presence of a gradient in water chemical potential. The model allows for a coupling between the interbilayer forces and the diffusional flux of water. A gradient in water chemical potential induces an inhomogeneous swelling of the liquid crystal, which also affects the molecular permeability of other molecules. Results for the... (More)

The outer part of the skin, stratum corneum, has an architecture of keratin filled cells, the corneocytes, embedded in stacked lipid bilayers. The lamellar structure provides an effective barrier to passive diffusion of small molecules and prevents uncontrolled water loss. In this paper, we present a theoretical model for molecular diffusional transport over an oriented stack of liquid crystalline bilayers in the presence of a gradient in water chemical potential. The model allows for a coupling between the interbilayer forces and the diffusional flux of water. A gradient in water chemical potential induces an inhomogeneous swelling of the liquid crystal, which also affects the molecular permeability of other molecules. Results for the swelling and diffusional flux of water, in response to variations in the boundary conditions, show qualitative agreement with experimental findings. Diffusional transport of dissolved small molecules is treated with applications to drug transport and exchange of metabolic gases. Implications concerning phase transitions along the gradient in water chemical potential are also discussed. The present model offer a general formulation of non- linear transport in responsive membranes, which in addition to the skin barrier can be applied to other responsive membranes in biological and technical applications.

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publication status
published
subject
keywords
Liquid crystal, Responsive membrane, Solute flux, Stratum corneum, Water flux
in
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
volume
19
issue
2
pages
14 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:0034672901
ISSN
0927-7765
DOI
10.1016/S0927-7765(00)00136-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
97507a0a-a6e2-441b-9962-dd84a3754983
date added to LUP
2023-12-07 14:57:58
date last changed
2023-12-08 15:17:31
@article{97507a0a-a6e2-441b-9962-dd84a3754983,
  abstract     = {{<p>The outer part of the skin, stratum corneum, has an architecture of keratin filled cells, the corneocytes, embedded in stacked lipid bilayers. The lamellar structure provides an effective barrier to passive diffusion of small molecules and prevents uncontrolled water loss. In this paper, we present a theoretical model for molecular diffusional transport over an oriented stack of liquid crystalline bilayers in the presence of a gradient in water chemical potential. The model allows for a coupling between the interbilayer forces and the diffusional flux of water. A gradient in water chemical potential induces an inhomogeneous swelling of the liquid crystal, which also affects the molecular permeability of other molecules. Results for the swelling and diffusional flux of water, in response to variations in the boundary conditions, show qualitative agreement with experimental findings. Diffusional transport of dissolved small molecules is treated with applications to drug transport and exchange of metabolic gases. Implications concerning phase transitions along the gradient in water chemical potential are also discussed. The present model offer a general formulation of non- linear transport in responsive membranes, which in addition to the skin barrier can be applied to other responsive membranes in biological and technical applications.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sparr, Emma and Wennerström, Håkan}},
  issn         = {{0927-7765}},
  keywords     = {{Liquid crystal; Responsive membrane; Solute flux; Stratum corneum; Water flux}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{103--116}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces}},
  title        = {{Diffusion through a responding lamellar liquid crystal : A model of molecular transport across stratum corneum}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0927-7765(00)00136-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0927-7765(00)00136-3}},
  volume       = {{19}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}