The tissue distribution and percutaneous drug absorption of indomethacin (IND) patches were studied using commercial IND as a comparison. The concentration of IND in skin, plasma, and muscle in mice was measured by LC-MS/MS, and the IND concentration in the dermis of rats was also monitored by microdialysis. After percutaneous administration, the "double-peak" phenomenon occurred in different tissues, and the IND concentration was ranked as skin first, followed by plasma and then muscle. In particular, skin acted as a reservoir for drug release, and the "secondary hump" in tissue distribution was attributed to the subsequent release of lipophilic IND in skin. It was concluded that examination of the tissue distribution and application of a microdialysis technique provided an effective means of evaluating indomethacin pharmacokinetics.
Keywords: Dermal microdialysis; Double peaks; Indomethacin patches; Tissue distribution; Topical application.