Stratum corneum dermal absorption modeling

The stratum corneum consists of separated, nonviable, cornified, almost nonpermeable corneocytes embedded into a continuous lipid bilayer made of various classes of lipids, for example, ceramides, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, free fatty acids, and triglycerides [6], Structurally, this epidermis layer is best described by the so-called brick-and-mortar model [7], The stratum corneum is crucial for the barrier function of the skin, controlling percutaneous absorption of dermally applied substances and regulating fluid homeostasis. The thickness of the stratum corneum is usually 10-25 /an, with exceptions at the soles of the feet and the palms, and swells several-fold when hydrated. All components of the stratum corneum originate from the basal layer of the epidermis, the stratum germinativum. 

Menon, G.K., and S.H. Lee. 1998. Ultrastructural effects of some solvents and vehicles on the stratum corneum and other skin components Evidence for an extended mosaic-partitioning model of the skin barrier. In Dermal absorption and toxicity assessment, eds. M.S. Roberts and K.A. Walters. New York Marcel Dekker, chap. 29. 

Modeling Dermal Absorption from Soils and Powders Using Stratum Corneum... 

---