title: Laser assisted drug delivery: a review of an evolving technology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Topically applied drugs have a relatively low cutaneous bioavailability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews the existing applications of laser assisted drug delivery, a means by which the permeation of topically applied agents can be enhanced into the skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The existing literature suggests that lasers are a safe and effective means of enhancing the delivery of topically applied agents through the skin. The types of lasers most commonly studied in regards to drug delivery are the carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) lasers. Both conventional ablative and fractional ablative modalities have been utilized and are summarized herein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of the existing studies on laser assisted drug delivery have been performed on animal models and additional human studies are needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser assisted drug delivery is an evolving technology with potentially broad clinical applications. Multiple studies demonstrate that laser pretreatment of the skin can increase the permeability and depth of penetration of topically applied drug molecules for both local cutaneous and systemic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, 3013 West Grand Blvd, Suite 800, Detroit, Michigan, 48202.
authors.forename: Lindsay R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Sklar
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.forename: Jill S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Waibel
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Moy
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ozog
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D014612:Vaccines; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: fractional photothermolysis; fractionated; microthermal zone