In vitro skin penetration and decontamination studies using human skin
Research type
Research Study
Full title
In vitro skin penetration studies to identify optimal decontamination parameters for chemical simulant, toxic powders and corrosives.
IRAS ID
324939
Contact name
Hazem Matar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
This project will evaluate the efficacy of several skin decontamination practices currently used by the emergency services to ensure their suitability against toxic powders and corrosive substances. Therefore, this project will purchase human skin from tissue banks generally from cosmetic reduction surgeries which have been ethically sourced in line with donor consent and IRB/HTA approval and consenting procedures. These decontamination procedures such as washing with water or removal using absorbent material will be performed at different times following exposure. To compare the efficacy of these different decontamination protocols, several experimental endpoints will be measured using skin diffusion cell apparatus (standard skin absorption methodology). The main endpoints will be the amount of contaminant remaining on the skin surface, amount in the skin and the amount absorbed through the skin into the receptor fluid (underneath the skin). The amount which is absorbed through the skin into the receptor fluid will be sampled at frequent intervals over 24 hours. All samples will be quantified using Liquid Chromatography coupled with High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) or liquid scintillation counting (where appropriate). Each of these endpoints will enable the comparison of the decontamination procedures to a range of toxic powders and corrosive liquids. Furthermore, the results from these experiments will also serve to implement potential improvements to current decontamination practices (where applicable).
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0286
Date of REC Opinion
21 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion