Lidocaine transport through a cellophane membrane by alternating current iontophoresis with a duty cycle.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether lidocaine can be efficiently transported across a cellophane membrane using a square-wave alternating current (AC) with an adjusted duty cycle. Three voltages at 1 kHz with 6 duty cycles were applied for 60 min to the diffusion cells on both sides of the cellophane membrane. The donor chamber was filled with 1% lidocaine hydrochloride solution. The transport of lidocaine was enhanced in a voltage-, and duty cycle-dependent manner. These findings indicate that voltage and the direct current (DC) component of the square-wave AC play important roles in generating the driving force necessary for lidocaine delivery. Additionally, the periodic polarity alteration could reduce the electrode polarization. The higher voltages and duty cycles induced a pH change. The practical electrical conditions which are preferable for clinical application were 10 V with a 70% duty cycle or 20 V with a 60% duty cycle.