Surfactant-induced increases of permeability of rat oral mucosa to non-electrolytes in vivo.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Animal in vivo experimental study
PubMed 3857884 · doi:10.1016/0003-9969(85)90023-8
What was done
Researchers evaluated the in vivo effects of non-ionic, cationic, and anionic surfactants on the permeability of rat oral mucosa to various non-electrolytes, including oil-soluble compounds and both small and large water-soluble compounds. Tissue alterations and permeability to sodium lauryl sulphate were also assessed.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative values. Surfactants increased oral mucosal permeability in a concentration-dependent manner, with cationic and anionic surfactants exhibiting greater potency than non-ionic agents. Histologically, surfactant exposure caused widening of the stratum corneum via layer separation and loss of surface layers, and sodium lauryl sulphate produced damage to the mucosal permeability barrier.
Why it matters
This study demonstrates how different classes of surfactants compromise the oral mucosal barrier, which is relevant for formulating transmucosal drug delivery systems and assessing surfactant toxicity in oral care products.
Limits
The study was conducted exclusively in a rat model, which may not fully reflect human oral mucosal physiology. The abstract provides no specific sample sizes, concentrations tested, or numerical outcome measures.
Cited by
- supports Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) breaks down the lipid layer in oral mucosal cells and crosses into the blood supply, as shown in rat studies.