There is a significant hype in the medical sector for the transdermal administration of drugs as it allows achieving a combination of multiple advantages: non-invasive procedure, pain avoidance, no first-pass hepatic metabolism, and induction of sustained plasma levels. This paper proposes a model for the study and prediction of drug transport through skin and the following distribution to human body. This is achieved by an innovative combination of the physiologically-based compartmental approach with Fick's laws of diffusion. The skin model features three strata: stratum corneum, viable epidermis, and dermis, which have a major impact on the absorption, distribution, and metabolism of transdermal drugs. The combined model accounts for skin transport via diffusion equations, and absorption and distribution in the rest of the body (i.e. organs/tissues) via material balances on homogeneous compartments. Experimental data of transdermal melatonin allow validation. Main applications are optimization of the dosage and study of skin transport.

在医学领域中，对于药物的透皮给药有很大的炒作，因为它可以实现多种优点的组合：无创手术，避免疼痛，无首过性肝代谢和诱导持续血浆水平。本文提出了一种模型，用于研究和预测药物通过皮肤以及随后向人体的分布。这是通过基于生理的隔室方法与菲克扩散定律的创新组合来实现的。皮肤模型具有三个层次：角质层，存活的表皮和真皮，它们对透皮药物的吸收，分布和代谢产生重大影响。组合模型考虑了通过扩散方程式进行的皮肤运输，以及人体其余部位的吸收和分布（即器官/组织）通过均质隔室上的物料平衡。透皮褪黑激素的实验数据可以验证。主要应用是剂量的优化和皮肤运输的研究。