Effect of Azone on the iontophoretic transdermal delivery of metoprolol tartrate through human epidermis in vitro

Abstract

This study was attempted to investigate the effect of Azone on the transdermal iontophoretic transport of metoprolol tartrate (MPL) through human epidermis in vitro. Investigations were done to probe the mechanism of action of this enhancer, and to see whether there is any synergistic effect of this enhancer in conjunction with iontophoresis. Along with comparison of iontophoretic and passive transport of the drug in presence of the enhancer, parameters like steady state flux (Jss), permeability coefficient (Kp) and enhancement factors (E) were evaluated. It was found that both during passive diffusion and iontophoresis, Azone caused increased transport of the drug through human epidermis and the transport was increased 130-fold during iontophoresis compared to passive flux. These results were supported by scanning electron microscopy studies of the epidermis after experimentation.