Multiphoton microscopy. a powerful tool in skin research and topical drug delivery science

Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) has become a powerful complementary tool in biomedical research, enabling non-invasive three-dimensional imaging of tissue with high resolution. The major advantage is that investigations and visualization can be performed without mechanical destruction of the sample through tissue sectioning. This review will give a brief introduction to the technology, accompanied by examples of how the technique can be implemented within the field of skin research. Specifically, MPM has already made it possible to visualize cellular morphology and the cutaneous distribution of topically applied compounds applied to intact skin. MPM provides information that can be used to assess the bioavailability of drugs and to visualize drug penetration pathways into skin. MPM has also been implemented as a tool for obtaining non-invasive tissue biopsy based on skin autofluorescence in connection to diagnostics of skin cancer. We will also briefly present some recent results where MPM has been used to track cyclodextrin based drugs applied topically. Finally, we will discuss some future challenges of the technology, including label-free imaging, multimodal techniques, and quantitative imaging.