Diffusion test apparatus and method

A diffusion test apparatus, for use with a test membrane, comprising:

• a receiver assembly including a plurality of receiver receptacles having receiver receptacle openings along a receiving face, the receiver receptacle openings arranged in a chosen pattern;
• a donor assembly including a plurality of donor receptacles having donor receptacle openings along a donor face, the donor receptacle openings arranged in a mirror image of said chosen pattern;
• one of the receiver face and the donor face including conical projections surrounding its corresponding receptacle openings and the other of the receiver face and the donor face includes conical recesses surrounding its corresponding receptacle openings;
• means for securing the donor assembly to the receiver assembly with the test membrane captured between the donor face and the receiver face, the receiver receptacle openings aligned with corresponding ones of the donor receptacle openings and the conical projections positioned within the conical recesses;
• the donor assembly including a fill port opening into each of said donor receptacles to permit the donor receptacles to have a test substance and a liquid vehicle introduced into each of said donor receptacles;
• and
• a mixing element in each of said receiver and donor receptacle;
• whereby transfer of one or more substances through the membrane can occur.

A method for testing for diffusion through a membrane comprising the following steps:

• selecting a receiver assembly having a plurality of receiver receptacles with receiver receptacle openings arranged in a chosen pattern along a receiver face;
• introducing a receiver liquid into the receiver receptacles;
• covering the receiver receptacle openings with membrane, at least two of the receiver receptacle openings covered with a single piece of said membrane;
• introducing donor liquids into donor receptacles of a donor assembly;
• securing the donor assembly against the receiver assembly to create a diffusion assembly so that the donor and receiver faces are positioned facing one another and the donor and receptacle openings are aligned, the donor assembly comprising donor receptacles having donor receptacle openings, arranged in a mirror image of said chosen pattern, along a donor face of the donor assembly to permit diffusion to take place through the membrane at the aligned donor and receptacle openings.

A method for testing for diffusion through a membrane comprising the following steps:

• selecting a receiver assembly having a plurality of receiver receptacles with receiver receptacle openings arranged in a chosen pattern along a receiver face;
• automatically introducing a receiver liquid into the receiver receptacles using a programmable liquid transfer machine;
• covering the receiver receptacle openings with membrane, at least two of the receiver receptacle openings covered with a single piece of said membrane;
• securing the donor assembly against the receiver assembly to create a diffusion assembly so that the donor and receiver faces are positioned facing one another and the donor and receptacle openings are aligned, the donor assembly comprising donor receptacles having donor receptacle openings, arranged in a mirror image of said chosen pattern, along a donor face of the donor assembly;
• introducing donor liquids into the donor receptacles of a donor assembly;
• maintaining the diffusion assembly in a controlled environment for a chosen period of time to permit diffusion of a chosen substance from the donor liquid into the receiver liquid;
• and
• testing for the chosen substance following the chosen period of time by:
• separating the donor assembly and the membrane from the receiver assembly;
• selecting an assay rack having assay cells arranged in said chosen pattern;
• transferring at least a portion of the contents of the receiver receptacles to the assay cells using a programmable liquid transfer machine which simultaneously transfers sets of said portions of the contents into sets of the assay cells;
• and
• subjecting the contents of the assay cells to an assaying technique.

A method for testing for drug permeation enhancement through a membrane for a drug-containing vehicle comprising the following steps:

• selecting a receiver assembly having a plurality of receiver receptacles with receiver receptacle openings arranged in a chosen pattern along a receiver face;
• introducing a receiver liquid into the receiver receptacles;
• covering the receiver receptacle openings with membrane, at least two of the receiver receptacle openings covered with a single piece of said membrane;
• securing the donor assembly against the receiver assembly to create a diffusion assembly so that the donor and receiver faces are positioned facing one another and the donor and receptacle openings are aligned, the donor assembly comprising donor receptacles having donor receptacle openings, arranged in a mirror image of said chosen pattern, along a donor face of the donor assembly;
• and
• introducing the drug-containing vehicle into the donor receptacles of a donor assembly to permit diffusion of the drug to take place through the membrane at the aligned donor and receptacle openings.