Transdermal drug delivery: overcoming the skin's barrier function

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• The skin serves as a vital evolutionary adaptation, encapsulating organisms and mediating environmental interactions.
• It functions as a sophisticated homeostatic barrier, crucial for preventing dehydration and maintaining internal stability.
• The skin's inherent barrier properties restrict both the inward and outward passage of molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the challenges and progress in overcoming the skin's barrier function for transdermal drug delivery.
• To underscore the significance of the skin's barrier properties in pharmaceutical science.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on skin barrier function.
• Analysis of advancements in transdermal drug delivery strategies.

Main Results:

• The skin's barrier is highly effective at preventing water loss and regulating molecular transport.
• Significant progress has been made in developing methods to overcome the skin barrier for drug delivery.

Conclusions:

• The skin's barrier function presents a substantial challenge for transdermal drug delivery.
• Ongoing research and innovation continue to yield progress in this field.