Laser scanning microscopy for control of skin decontamination efficacy from airborne particulates using highly absorbent textile nanofiber material in combination with PEG‐12 dimethicone

Abstract

Background: The decontamination of the skin is indispensable if airborne particulate contaminants deposit on the skin surface. Skin washing can have adverse effects as by skin rubbing the particles can be transferred deeply into the hair follicles, where they can be entrapped for a period of more than 10 days. Thus, alternative skin decontamination strategies are necessary. Materials and Methods: For imaging the contaminants in the skin, sodium fluorescein-labeled soot particles of submicron size (≈600 nm) were visualized using laser scanning microscopy. Results: In the present ex vivo pilot study on porcine ear skin, it was shown that sodium fluorescein-labeled soot particles of submicron size (≈600 nm) could be efficiently removed from the skin with highly absorbent textile nanofiber material, whose efficacy could be further increased by spraying the contaminated skin area with the viscous fluid PEG-12 dimethicone before textile application. Conclusion: In case of skin contamination with particulates, the contact washing should be avoided due to rubbing particles deeply into the hair follicles, where they can accumulate for a long time and induce negative consequences. Efficient skin decontamination could include pretreatment of skin surface with the viscous fluid PEG-12 dimethicone and subsequent application of highly absorbent textile nanofiber material.

Optical Methods for Non-Invasive Determination of Skin Penetration: Current Trends, Advances, Possibilities, Prospects, and Translation into In Vivo Human Studies

“…Based on these results and the doxorubicine-induced decrease in the concentration of antioxidants in the SC, it was hypothesized that the probable cause for the development of hand–foot syndrome is the damaging interaction of doxorubicine and/or its metabolites with the SC compartments, leading to barrier disruption [ 108 ]. The accumulation, penetration pathways, and removal efficacy of sodium-fluorescein-labeled soot contaminant particles from skin were demonstrated by FCLSM ex vivo [ 109 ]. The in vivo and ex vivo imaging of hair-follicle-containing skin areas do not provide fully depth-resolved images, which is due to the limitation of the screening depth and the “shadows” caused by the hair shaft due to its curved position in the skin, so that deep penetration into the hair root and dermal papillae regions are not detectable [ 110 ]; the investigations on vellus instead of terminal hair follicles could be recommended.…”