A neutron-diffraction study of the effect of hydration on stratum corneum structure

The primary barrier to transdermal diffusion resides in the stratum corneum (SC), the thin outermost layer of the skin. The SC hydration state is one of the most important factors that determine the rate of percutaneous permeability. Despite its great importance, the actual mechanism of water–SC interaction is yet unresolved. In the present work we employ the membrane neutron diffraction method, aiming to reveal structural details of porcine SC and ultimately enable the localization of water molecules in the two phases of the tissue.