Intradermal delivery of antisense oligonucleotides by the pulse depolarization iontophoretic system

The intradermal delivery of an antisense oligonucleotide was examined by iontophoresis. In this experiment, the antisense sequence of [(32)P]-labeled phosphodiester oligonucleotide ([(32)P]D-oligo, 18-mer) hybridizing to mouse interleukin 10 (IL-10) mRNA was used as a model D-oligo. In in vitro iontophoretic experiments, isolated hairless mouse skin was used with a horizontal diffusion cell. The enhancing effect of pulse depolarization (PDP) iontophoresis on the [(32)P]D-oligo permeation through the skin was better, and the skin irritation was less, than those of constant direct current (CDC) iontophoresis. The apparent fluxes of [(32)P]D-oligo were enhanced with the increasing current densities and [(32)P]D-oligo concentrations in the donor solution, whereas the enhanced flux decreased with the increasing NaCl concentrations in the donor solution. An optimum electric current was observed for the intradermal delivery of [(32)P]D-oligo, and intact [(32)P]D-oligo was detected within the skin after iontophoresis for 6 h. These results suggest that PDP iontophoresis may be useful for the intradermal delivery of antisense oligonucleotides.