Iontophoresis--is there a future for clinical application?

Transdermal application of drugs is a field of great importance in medical therapy. The application is painless and may be controlled at any time. Iontophoresis is one method for transdermal application of substances, especially for larger or charged molecules which cannot be administered by a simple transdermal route. The problems arise from the complex equipment and the electrical properties of the skin. A better understanding of skin structure and electric transmission through human skin has led to renewed interest in iontophoresis as an administration mode. Iontophoresis is the method of choice in administration of certain local anesthetics and has had its greatest success in therapy of hyperhidrosis. New applications are to be expected, particularly in administration of peptide and protein drugs.