Epidermal Barrier Function
Epidermal Barrier Function - Related Videos
21:16
An In Vitro Skin Irritation Test (SIT) using the EpiDerm Reconstructed Human Epidermal (RHE) Model
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Cited by 57 •
2009
In this video, we demonstrate the EpiDerm Skin Irritation test (EpiDerm SIT) developed and validated for in vitro skin irritation testing of chemicals, including cosmetic and pharmaceutical ingredients.
12:30
Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing for the Quantification of Endothelial Proliferation, Barrier Function, and Motility
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Cited by 213 •
2014
This protocol reviews Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing, a method to record and analyze the impedance spectrum of adherent cells for the quantification of cell attachment, proliferation, motility, and cellular responses to pharmacological and toxic stimuli. Detection of endothelial permeability and assessment of cell-cell and cell-substrate contacts are emphasized.
02:04
Generation of a Human Colonoid Monolayer with Barrier Function to Study Host–Pathogen Interactions
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2026
Source: In, J. G.,et al. Human Colonoid Monolayers to Study Interactions Between Pathogens, Commensals, and Host Intestinal Epithelium. J. Vis. Exp. (2019).This video demonstrates the procedure for culturing colon-derived epithelial cells on a collagen-coated Transwell system to generate a mucus-producing monolayer that models the intestinal barrier and enables host–pathogen interaction studies.
08:36
Functional Neuroimaging Using Ultrasonic Blood-brain Barrier Disruption and Manganese-enhanced MRI
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Cited by 4 •
2012
A technique is described for broadly opening the blood-brain barrier in the mouse using microbubbles and ultrasound. Using this technique, manganese can be administered to the mouse brain. Because manganese is an MRI contrast agent that accumulates in depolarized neurons, this approach enables imaging of neuronal activity.
07:18
Oral Gavage in Neonatal Mouse Pups and Functional Assessment of Gut Barrier Integrity Using Ussing Chambers
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2026
This article describes: (1) oral gavage delivery of test molecules to neonatal mice as early as DOL 6; and (2) ex vivo evaluation of colonic epithelial barrier function in biopsies from DOL 10 to weaning (DOL 20) pups by assessing paracellular and transcellular permeability with Ussing chambers.
FAQs
Corneocytes form keratin-rich structural units, while organized extracellular lipids occupy the spaces between them. This arrangement creates a coordinated barrier rather than relying on either component alone. Changes in lipid organization can therefore alter how effectively the epidermis limits water movement and restricts the entry of environmental substances.
Tight junctions reinforce cell-to-cell sealing in deeper epidermal layers, helping maintain tissue continuity beneath the outer surface. Antimicrobial defenses provide an additional protective function against pathogens. Together, these systems extend barrier protection beyond the physical properties of the stratum corneum and strengthen epidermal resistance to biological challenges.
Lipid composition affects how effectively extracellular materials are organized within the barrier, whereas hydration supports the condition of epidermal structures. When either factor changes, barrier performance may be altered, including the ability to limit water loss. These variables are therefore important when interpreting skin condition or evaluating topical treatment effects.
After injury, coordinated epidermal repair helps restore the structures responsible for controlled exchange with the environment. The quality and progress of this repair influence how quickly protective performance returns. For this reason, barrier restoration is an important biological outcome in wound-healing research, not merely a consequence of closing the visible injury.
Investigations can focus on lipid composition, hydration, the organization of keratin-rich corneocytes, reinforcement from tight junctions, antimicrobial defenses, and repair after injury. Considering these features together helps researchers distinguish structural, chemical, and recovery-related contributions to barrier performance and provides a broader basis for evaluating epidermal models or treatments.
Barrier research helps explain how altered epidermal protection may relate to conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Examining barrier components and repair processes can connect changes in skin structure with impaired regulation of exchange or increased vulnerability to environmental challenges. This context supports investigation of disease mechanisms and potential topical interventions.
Skin models provide research systems for examining barrier-related properties and responses without relying only on intact human tissue. Findings from such studies can guide the development and evaluation of topical treatments by showing how formulations relate to lipid organization, hydration, protection, or repair. Their usefulness depends on how well relevant epidermal features are represented.
The barrier determines how readily substances interact with or cross the epidermis, making its structure important for transdermal drug-delivery research. Information about corneocytes, extracellular lipids, hydration, and overall barrier performance can guide system development. Researchers can use this biological context to account for the skin’s protective function when designing delivery approaches.