In vitro percutaneous transport of sodium diclofenac and diclofenac from oleaginous vehicle

The penetration enhancement of sodium diclofenac and diclofenac by alcohols with various alkyl chains (C8 to C14) was evaluated by the steady state flux of diclofenac through rat abdominal skin. Decanol showed the greatest effect in this series. A more remarkable enhancing effect of the alcohols was observed in sodium diclofenac than in diclofenac. Diclofenac can penetrate through the ethylene-vinyl acetate membrane as a lipoid model membrane, but sodium diclofenac can not. Decanol enhanced the penetration of phenol red being dependent on its concentration in the vehicle. Therefore, decanol may interact with lipoid components of the skin and increase the aqueous pathway in the skin. These results indicate that sodium diclofenac and diclofenac may be penetrated through partially different pathways.