Drug delivery systems. 6. Transdermal drug delivery.

Transdermal drug delivery system has been in existence for a long time. In the past, the most commonly applied systems were topically applied creams and ointments for dermatological disorders. The occurrence of systemic side-effects with some of these formulations is indicative of absorption through the skin. A number of drugs have been applied to the skin for systemic treatment. In a broad sense, the term transdermal delivery system includes all topically administered drug formulations intended to deliver the active ingredient into the general circulation. Transdermal therapeutic systems have been designed to provide controlled continuous delivery of drugs via the skin to the systemic circulation. The relative impermeability of skin is well known, and this is associated with its functions as a dual protective barrier against invasion by micro-organisms and the prevention of the loss of physiologically essential substances such as water. Elucidation of factors that contribute to this impermeability has made the use of skin as a route for controlled systemic drug delivery possible. Basically, four systems are available that allow for effective absorption of drugs across the skin. The microsealed system is a partition-controlled delivery system that contains a drug reservoir with a saturated suspension of drug in a water-miscible solvent homogeneously dispersed in a silicone elastomer matrix. A second system is the matrix-diffusion controlled system. The third and most widely used system for transdermal drug delivery is the membrane-permeation controlled system. A fourth system, recently made available, is the gradient-charged system. Additionally, advanced transdermal carriers include systems such as iontophoretic and sonophoretic systems, thermosetting gels, prodrugs, and liposomes. Many drugs have been formulated in transdermal systems, and others are being examined for the feasibility of their delivery in this manner (e.g., nicotine antihistamines, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, contraceptives, anti-arrhythmic drugs, insulin, antivirals, hormones, alpha-interferon, and cancer chemotherapeutic agents). Research also continues on various chemical penetration enhancers that may allow delivery of therapeutic substances. For example, penetration enhancers such as Azone may allow delivery of larger-sized molecules such as proteins and polypeptides.