title: Skin electroporation for transdermal and topical delivery.
abstract: Electroporation is the transitory structural perturbation of lipid bilayer membranes due to the application of high voltage pulses. Its application to the skin has been shown to increase transdermal drug delivery by several orders of magnitude. Moreover, electroporation, used alone or in combination with other enhancement methods, expands the range of drugs (small to macromolecules, lipophilic or hydrophilic, charged or neutral molecules) which can be delivered transdermally. Molecular transport through transiently permeabilized skin by electroporation results mainly from enhanced diffusion and electrophoresis. The efficacy of transport depends on the electrical parameters and the physicochemical properties of drugs. The in vivo application of high voltage pulses is well tolerated but muscle contractions are usually induced. The electrode and patch design is an important issue to reduce the discomfort of the electrical treatment in humans.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Pharmacie Galénique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue E. Mounier, 73 UCL 7320, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anne-Rose
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Denet
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanbever
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Préat
mesh_terms: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D018274:Electroporation; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
chemical_list: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations