Sonophoresis: recent advancements and future trends

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Pharmaceutics
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Ultrasound therapeutics and drug delivery show increasing commercial interest with more patents and devices.
• Sonophoresis (phonophoresis) utilizes ultrasound to enhance transdermal drug delivery.
• Recent advancements focus on improving ultrasound-mediated drug delivery technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in sonophoretic drug delivery over the past two decades.
• To highlight challenges hindering the clinical application of sonophoresis.
• To discuss the potential of ultrasound in various therapeutic areas.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on sonophoresis and ultrasound-mediated drug delivery.
• Analysis of advancements in phonophoresis equipment and formulations.
• Exploration of synergistic effects with other enhancement techniques.

Main Results:

• Sonophoresis increases skin permeability for diverse drugs, including insulin and heparin.
• Ultrasound offers potential in cancer therapy, cardiovascular disorders, and gene therapy.
• Combination with chemical enhancers, iontophoresis, and electroporation can overcome obstacles.

Conclusions:

• Sonophoresis shows promise for transdermal drug delivery but requires further evaluation for therapeutic value.
• Addressing safety, cost, and parameter optimization is crucial for commercialization.
• Ultrasound-mediated delivery is expanding into novel applications like nanotechnology and blood-brain barrier modification.