Raman Imaging of Drug Penetration of Skin

This lecture covers the use of Raman imaging to study drug penetration of the skin, focusing on the stratum corneum as the main barrier for topically applied drugs. The diffusion process is critical for drug delivery, as shown in SRS images of retinoic acid and DMSO penetration pathways. Retinoic acid penetrates through the intercellular space, while DMSO, a diffusion enhancer, reaches deeper into the skin. The lecture also discusses the use of stimulated Raman scattering to enhance the signal. Additionally, the lecture touches on infrared microscopy, a technique used by forensic investigators to analyze organic materials based on their characteristic absorption in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum.