Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biology of Stratum Corneum: Tape Stripping and Protein Quantification

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Textbook of Aging Skin

Abstract

Stratum corneum (SC) adhesive tape stripping has been utilized in the measurement of stratum corneum mass, barrier function, drug reservoir, and percutaneous penetration of topical substances. The process involves a methodical, relatively noninvasive layer-by-layer removal of the SC, which comprises the outermost epidermal cell layers. Complete SC removal may require over 70 tape strips (Lademann et al., J Biomed Opt 11(5):054026, 2006; Weigmann et al., Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 12(1–2):34–45, 1999). The quantity of SC harvested diminishes with each sequential strip, possibly due to increased SC cohesiveness in deeper layers. Thus, the mass of any single strip depends on the mass removed by the prior strip (Bashir et al., Skin Res Technol 7(1):40–48, 2001). SC removal may rely on the interaction between the adhesive stripping force and the cohesive intercellular force (Bashir et al., Skin Res Technol 7(1):40–48, 2001).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Lademann J, Ilgevicius A, Zurbau O, Liess HD, Schanzer S, Weigmann HJ, Antoniou C, Pelchrzim RV, Sterry W. Penetration studies of topically applied substances: optical determination of the amount of stratum corneum removed by tape stripping. J Biomed Opt. 2006;11(5):054026.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Weigmann H, Lademann J, Meffert H, Schaefer H, Sterry W. Determination of the horny layer profile by tape stripping in combination with optical spectroscopy in the visible range as a prerequisite to quantify percutaneous absorption. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 1999;12(1–2):34–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bashir SJ, Chew AL, Anigbogu A, Dreher F, Maibach HI. Physical and physiological effects of stratum corneum tape stripping. Skin Res Technol. 2001;7(1):40–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pinkus H. Examination of the epidermis by the strip method of removing horny layers. I. Observations on thickness of the horny layer, and on mitotic activity after stripping. J Invest Dermatol. 1951;16(6):383–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Denda M, Wood LC, Emami S, Calhoun C, Brown BE, Elias PM, Feingold KR. The epidermal hyperplasia associated with repeated barrier disruption by acetone treatment or tape stripping cannot be attributed to increased water loss. Arch Dermatol Res. 1996;288(5–6):230–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fisher LB, Maibach HI. Physical occlusion controlling epidermal mitosis. J Invest Dermatol. 1972;59(1):106–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Jungersted JM, Hellgren LI, Jemec GB, Agner T. Lipids and skin barrier function – a clinical perspective. Contact Dermatitis. 2008;58(5):255–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tagami H. Functional characteristics of the stratum corneum in photoaged skin in comparison with those found in intrinsic aging. Arch Dermatol Res. 2008;300 Suppl 1:1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Elias PM, Ghadially R. The aged epidermal permeability barrier: basis for functional abnormalities. Clin Geriatr Med. 2002;18(1):103–20, vii.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kalia YN, Pirot F, Guy RH. Homogeneous transport in a heterogeneous membrane: water diffusion across human stratum corneum in vivo. Biophys J. 1996;71(5):2692–700.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Schwindt DA, Wilhelm KP, Maibach HI. Water diffusion characteristics of human stratum corneum at different anatomical sites in vivo. J Invest Dermatol. 1998;111(3):385–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Loffler H, Dreher F, Maibach HI. Stratum corneum adhesive tape stripping: influence of anatomical site, application pressure, duration and removal. Br J Dermatol. 2004;151(4):746–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Breternitz M, Flach M, Prassler J, Elsner P, Fluhr JW. Acute barrier disruption by adhesive tapes is influenced by pressure, time and anatomical location: integrity and cohesion assessed by sequential tape stripping. A randomized, controlled study. Br J Dermatol. 2007;156(2):231–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Yagi ER, Sakamoto K, Nakagawa K. Depth dependence of stratum corneum lipid ordering: a slow-tumbling simulation for electron paramagnetic resonance. J Invest Dermatol. 2007;127(4):895–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bonte F, Saunois A, Pinguet P, Meybeck A. Existence of a lipid gradient in the upper stratum corneum and its possible biological significance. Arch Dermatol Res. 1997;289(2):78–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Weerheim A, Ponec M. Determination of stratum corneum lipid profile by tape stripping in combination with high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Arch Dermatol Res. 2001;293(4):191–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. van der Valk PG, Maibach HI. A functional study of the skin barrier to evaporative water loss by means of repeated cellophane-tape stripping. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1990;15(3):180–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Pirot F, Berardesca E, Kalia YN, Singh M, Maibach HI, Guy RH. Stratum corneum thickness and apparent water diffusivity: facile and noninvasive quantitation in vivo. Pharm Res. 1998;15(3):492–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kalia YN, Alberti I, Sekkat N, Curdy C, Naik A, Guy RH. Normalization of stratum corneum barrier function and transepidermal water loss in vivo. Pharm Res. 2000;17(9):1148–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Herkenne C, Naik A, Kalia YN, Hadgraft J, Guy RH. Dermatopharmacokinetic prediction of topical drug bioavailability in vivo. J Invest Dermatol. 2007;127(4):887–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Herkenne C, Naik A, Kalia YN, Hadgraft J, Guy RH. Effect of propylene glycol on ibuprofen absorption into human skin in vivo. J Pharm Sci. 2008;97(1):185–97.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Alberti I, Kalia YN, Naik A, Bonny JD, Guy RH. In vivo assessment of enhanced topical delivery of terbinafine to human stratum corneum. J Control Release. 2001;71(3):319–27.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ghadially R, Brown BE, Sequeira-Martin SM, Feingold KR, Elias PM. The aged epidermal permeability barrier. Structural, functional, and lipid biochemical abnormalities in humans and a senescent murine model. J Clin Invest. 1995;95(5):2281–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Zettersten EM, et al. Optimal ratios of topical stratum corneum lipids improve barrier recovery in chronologically aged skin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997;37(3 Pt 1):403–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ghadially R, Brown BE, Hanley K, Reed JT, Feingold KR, Elias PM. Decreased epidermal lipid synthesis accounts for altered barrier function in aged mice. J Invest Dermatol. 1996;106(5):1064–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Dreher F, Arens A, Hostynek JJ, Mudumba S, Ademola J, Maibach HI. Colorimetric method for quantifying human Stratum corneum removed by adhesive-tape stripping. Acta Derm Venereol. 1998;78(3):186–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951;193(1):265–75.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Lindemann U, Weigmann HJ, Schaefer H, Sterry W, Lademann J. Evaluation of the pseudo-absorption method to quantify human stratum corneum removed by tape stripping using protein absorption. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2003;16(4):228–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Dreher F, Modjtahedi BS, Modjtahedi SP, Maibach HI. Quantification of stratum corneum removal by adhesive tape stripping by total protein assay in 96-well microplates. Skin Res Technol. 2005;11(2):97–101.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Marttin E, Neelissen-Subnel MT, De Haan FH, Bodde HE. A critical comparison of methods to quantify stratum corneum removed by tape stripping. Skin Pharmacol. 1996;9(1):69–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Weigmann HJ. UV/VIS absorbance allows rapid, accurate, and reproducible mass determination of corneocytes removed by tape stripping. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2003;16(4):217–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Voegeli R, Heiland J, Doppler S, Rawlings AV, Schreier T. Efficient and simple quantification of stratum corneum proteins on tape strippings by infrared densitometry. Skin Res Technol. 2007;13(3):242–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Hahn T, Hansen S, Neumann D, Kostka KH, Lehr CM, Muys L, Schaefer UF. Infrared densitometry: a fast and non-destructive method for exact stratum corneum depth calculation for in vitro tape-stripping. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2010;23(4):183–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Klang V, Schwarz JC, Hartl A, Valenta C. Facilitating in vitro tape stripping: application of infrared densitometry for quantification of porcine stratum corneum proteins. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2011;24(5):256–68.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Raj N, Voegeli R, Rawlings AV, Gibbons S, Munday MR, Summers B, Lane ME. Variation in stratum corneum protein content as a function of anatomical site and ethnic group. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2015. doi:10.1111/ics.12274.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Mohammed D, Yang Q, Guy RH, Matts PJ, Hadgraft J, Lane ME. Comparison of gravimetric and spectroscopic approaches to quantify stratum corneum removed by tape-stripping. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2012;82(1):171–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Cadavona, JJP, Zhu H, Hui X, Jung, EC, and Maibach HI, Depth-dependent stratum corneum permeability in human skin in vitro. J Appl Toxicol. 2016. doi:10.1002/jat.3289.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Bashir SJ, Dreher F, Chew AL, Zhai H, Levin C, Stern R, Maibach HI. Cutaneous bioassay of salicylic acid as a keratolytic. Int J Pharm. 2005;292(1–2):187–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Leveque N, Makki S, Hadgraft J, Humbert P. Comparison of Franz cells and microdialysis for assessing salicylic acid penetration through human skin. Int J Pharm. 2004;269(2):323–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Waller JM, Dreher F, Behnam S, Ford C, Lee C, Tiet T, Weinstein GD, Maibach HI. “Keratolytic” properties of benzoyl peroxide and retinoic acid resemble salicylic acid in man. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2006;19(5):283–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, 222 Piedmont Ave. Ste 5300, 45209, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Ali Alikhan

  2. Department of Dermatology, UC San Francisco, 90 Medical Center Way, Surge 110, 94143-0989, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Hanjiang Zhu & Howard I. Maibach

Authors
  1. Hanjiang Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ali Alikhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Howard I. Maibach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Alikhan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Miranda A. Farage

  2. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Kenneth W. Miller

  3. Department Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Zhu, H., Alikhan, A., Maibach, H.I. (2015). Biology of Stratum Corneum: Tape Stripping and Protein Quantification. In: Farage, M., Miller, K., Maibach, H. (eds) Textbook of Aging Skin. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27814-3_40-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27814-3_40-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27814-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation