Apparatus and methods for evaluating the barrier properties of a membrane

An article useful for assaying the effects of a plurality of formulations on the barrier properties of a test membrane, comprising:

• (i) a receiver plate, the plate including a plurality of receiver-well through holes with openings on the faces of the plate and one or more sealing-rod holes whose axes are approximately in the plane of the plate and that intersect the through holes;
• (ii) one or more cylindrical rods, the cylindrical rods including one or more transverse through holes and being disposed in the sealing rod holes.

An article for assaying the interaction of ingredients in a first plurality of formulations with skin comprising:

• (i) a second plurality of donor wells that can each be loaded with a formulation without contacting the skin;
• (ii) a skin piece or a third plurality of skin pieces disposed such that one end of each such donor well is sealed by a skin piece;
• (iii) a fourth plurality of receptor wells disposed, provided such that one end of each such receptor well is sealed by a skin piece.

A method of expelling gas from a well that is partially filled with a liquid in an experiment to assay the effects of a formulation on a test membrane comprising:

• (i) providing the well partially filled with the liquid, the well including a collapsible segment and a valve;
• (ii) collapsing, partially or fully, the collapsible segment;
• whereby gas is expelled from the valve.

A method of measuring in high throughput the effectiveness of a plurality of formulations as exfoliants, comprising:

• (i) providing a plurality of donor wells, the donor wells including a piece of skin which forms the donor well bottom;
• (ii) introducing the plurality of formulations into the donor wells;
• (iii) measuring the amount of skin debris suspended in the formulations.