IONTOPHORESIS: A FUNCTIONAL APPROACH FOR ENHANCEMENT OF TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY

Abstract

Iontophoresis is one of the most widely studied active techniques for enhancing transdermal delivery of drugs. However, its ability to enhance the delivery of highly lipophilic compounds is poor due to lack of any charge and poor water solubility of molecules. The skin has been used as a port for systemic delivery of therapeutic agents since several decades. The composition of stratum corneum renders it a daunting barrier to the topical and transdermal administration of therapeutic agents. The number of drug molecules for transdermal delivery is limited owing to the physicochemical restrictions.
 The delivery of drugs into systemic circulation via skin has generated much attention during the last decade. Transdermal therapeutic systems propound controlled release of active ingredients through the skin and into the systemic circulation in a predictive manner. Drugs administered through these systems escape first-pass metabolism and maintain a steady state scenario similar to a continuous intravenous infusion for up to several days.
 Keywords: Iontophoresis, non-invasive, stratum corneum, acid-alkaline reaction, chemical permeation enhancer, reverse iontophoresis.