The sorption and rate of permeation of scopolamine base in human skin have been measured as a function of drug concentration in aqueous solution contacting the stratum corneum surface of the skin. The sorption isotherm is nonlinear, and the apparent penetrant diffusivity computed from steady state permeation data is greater than that estimated from unsteady state (time lag) measurements.
By assuming that sorption occurs by both ordinary dissolution and binding of penetrant to immobile sites in the membrane, the experimental sorption isotherm can be predicted, and the disparity between steady state and time lag diffusivities can be reconciled.