Electrically modulated transdermal delivery of fentanyl

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Transdermal drug delivery offers a non-invasive route for systemic medication administration.
• Fentanyl, a potent opioid analgesic, requires precise dose control for effective pain management.
• Traditional transdermal systems often face challenges with slow release rates and limited control over drug flux.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of iontophoresis and electroporation for the rapid and modulated transdermal delivery of fentanyl.
• To compare the fentanyl delivery efficiency of iontophoresis and electroporation, both individually and potentially in combination.
• To assess the feasibility of controlling fentanyl flux through electrical parameters.

Main Methods:

• In vitro delivery of fentanyl citrate across human epidermis using iontophoresis (0.5 mA/cm2 for 5 h) and electroporation (15 pulses, 500V, 200 msec duration).
• Utilized silver/silver chloride electrodes for iontophoresis.
• Electroporation protocols included single applications and repeated applications at 1.5 and 2.5 hours.

Main Results:

• Passive delivery showed no measurable fentanyl permeation.
• Iontophoresis achieved a significant fentanyl flux of approximately 80 microg/cm2-hr, which decreased post-current application.
• Electroporation resulted in a 4-fold higher flux and shorter lag time compared to iontophoresis, with rapid recovery of flux after pulsing.

Conclusions:

• Electrically assisted transdermal delivery significantly enhances fentanyl transport compared to passive diffusion.
• Both iontophoresis and electroporation enable modulated transdermal delivery of fentanyl.
• Programming electrical parameters allows for rapid and controlled fentanyl delivery, demonstrating feasibility for therapeutic applications.