Facilitated transport of sodium salicylate across an artificial lipid membrane by Azone.

The ability of Azone (1-dodecylazacylcoheptan-2-one), a recently developed penetration enhancer, to facilitate the transport of sodium salicylate across an artificial lipid membrane has been investigated using the rotating diffusion cell, a well defined model for percutaneous absorption. Azone was found to be capable of enhancing the transport of the salicylate anion across an isopropyl myristate membrane, by using a pH gradient as the chemical driving force. The results indicate that Azone may be capable of forming ion pairs with anionic drugs.