Fig. 1

Atopic dermatitis did not influence the dermal penetration of CMS-ICC in mice. a ICC-labeled CMS were exclusively found in the stratum corneum of healthy mice. c This distribution pattern was virtually identical in mice with atopic dermatitis. b, d No fluorescent ICC-signals were detected in the skin of the respective control groups. e, h FLIM analysis confirmed that CMS-ICC exclusively accumulated in the stratum corneum in healthy mice and in mice with atopic dermatitis, based on data analysis of unique fluorescence decay curves (g, j) from tissue autofluorescence (cyan) and from CMS-ICC (red). f, i FLIM images of vehicle-treated skin show tissue-derived autofluorescence (cyan). Fluorescence intensities in (a–d) are adjusted to vehicle control groups and contrast-enhanced post acquisition. False color coding of the FLIM images (e, f, h, i) corresponds to the color coding of the fluorescence decay curves (g, j). Scale bar shown in (i) refers to images (e, f, h, i) scale bar in (d) to (a–d)