COMSOL Simulation of Transdermal Drug Delivery

This project presents a COMSOL Multiphysics computational simulation that investigates the optimal API concentration needed for maximum transdermal drug delivery for topical cream and ointment therapies. The simulation is built to optimize drug delivery across the skin layers shown in figure 1 below, and takes the following parameters into account:

• API Parameters
  • Molecular weight
  • Solubility
  • Particle size
  • Diffusion coefficient across each layer
  • Concentration in treatment
• Skin Parameters
  • Permeability
  • Thickness
  • Partition coefficient (boundary conditions)

Figure 1 – Schematic Representation of Skin Layers

Figure 2 – (a) Simplified 2D model of skin drug delivery; (b) COMSOL Multiphysics Mesh; and (c) API Diffusion Diagram after 60 Seconds

Figure 3 – Concentration Profile of API Overtime Across Skin Layers