Absorption of Organic Molecules from Aqueous Solutions

4 Absorption of Organic Molecules from Aqueous Solutions 

The majority of xenobiotics that are absorbed by the body are lipophilic and can permeate through body membranes. The uptake of hydrophilic species by the body, however, be they solvents, pharmaceuticals, or other chemicals are facilitated by the presence of lipophilic species. Kow values predict which chemicals are hydrophiles and which are lipophiles. Exposures to chemical mixtures of lipophiles and hydrophiles will result in the absorption of greater quantities of hydrophiles than would be taken up if these species were present alone. 

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Hodgson E, Smart RC. Introduction to biochemical toxicology, 3rd ed., John Wiley, New York, 2001, p. 115. 

Kitagawa S, Li H, Sato S. Skin permeation of parabens in excised guinea pig dorsal skin, its modification by penetration enhancers and their relationship with / -octanol/water partition coefficients. Chem Pharm Bull 1997 45(8) 1354-7. 

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