In vitro artificial permeability assays: a guide for users

Brief CV Dr. di Cagno is Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacy of University of Oslo, section for Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy. His research interests vary quite a lot within the pharmaceutical field, and comprise solid state alterations to improve poor solubility of drugs, improve deliverability of drugs with nanomedicine and development of in vitro tools for drug permeability investigation (e.g. Permeapad®). Currently, he is working on new approaches for the parametrization of drug diffusivity in unstirred media. Abstract In vitro tools for drug permeability quantification (both cellular-based and artificial) are becoming more and more available and implemented at both academic and industrial level. They offer significant advantages in comparison to ex vivo and in vivo studies such as cost effectiveness, time effectiveness and ease of utilization. The aim of this presentation is to give a general overview of the most employed in vitro artificial methods for drug permeability investigations (e.g. PAMPA, PVPA, Permeapad®, AMI-system) developed and available, focusing on advantages and disadvantages of each methods. This presentation is intended to help the current (and future) users of these methods to correctly interpret empirical data obtained and to help them to maximize the experimental outcome, especially when enabling formulations are tested.