ABSTRACT
Microdialysis is commonly referred to as a sampling technique that uses tiny (micro) hollow probes (200-500 μm in diameter) equipped with a porous tubular segment (the dialysis membrane) that is permeable to compounds of size smaller than the pores by passive diffusion. Microdialysis was developed in order to sample in vivo endogenous compounds from the body with minimal tissue damage and under physiological conditions. The ‘rst use of the technique dates back to the 1960s [1] when Bito et al. used small dialysis sacs to sample amino acids in the brains of dogs. However, the technique as we use it today was mostly developed in the 1980s and 1990s and is still actively investigated for novel improvements and variations. This chapter focuses on the technique as applied to improve our understanding of drug dermatokinetics. Microdialysis in brain and other organs requires an invasive procedure for the insertion of the probe, whereas it is easily performed in the skin without the need of any surgical procedure. Clearly, this is a signi‘cant advantage.
