Dissertation

Lipid model membrane systems as a tool for unraveling the underlying factors for skin barrier dysfunction

Barrier function is the natural role of the skin. The lipid matrix present in the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum is important for this function.

Author: Uche, L.E.
Date: 14 December 2021
Links: Thesis in Leiden Repository

Barrier function is the natural role of the skin. The lipid matrix present in the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum is important for this function. Barrier impairment and altered lipid composition are observed in several inflammatory skin diseases including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. However, the relationship between the lipid properties and barrier function is not comprehended.In this project, a lipid model was prepared from synthetic lipids that closely resemble the stratum corneum lipid composition and organization. Subsequently, diseased skin models were developed to mimic various abnormalities in lipid composition observed in atopic dermatitis patients’ skin. Biophysical methods were used to monitor the changes in lipid organization in these models. Diffusion studies and trans-epidermal water loss measurements were performed to monitor the barrier function. This allowed the determination of the changes in lipid properties that were most instrumental in reducing the lipid barrier.This thesis further describes the use of simple skin lipid model membranes incorporating fewer components to provide a detailed insight into the relationship between lipid composition, lipid organization, and the skin barrier. The information gained in this project offers the opportunity to develop a new generation of formulations to treat these patients.