Moment method for the estimation of mass transfer coefficients for physiological pharmacokinetic models

In vitro and in vivo techniques have been utilized to estimate mass transfer coefficients for physiological pharmacokinetic models. No single method has been adopted for estimating this parameter, in part, due to the different model structures with which this parameter may be associated. A specific method has been derived to calculate mass transfer coefficients for non‐eliminating membrane‐limited tissue compartments. The present method is based on observed concentration–time data, and requires the calculation of the areas under the zero and first moment curves for plasma, and the first moment curve for the tissue. A Monte Carlo simulation technique was used to determine the percentage biases of the method based on a published model for streptozoticin and adriamycin. For the latter model, the method was compared to a non‐linear regression parameter estimation technique.