Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems01:18

Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) enable the controlled release of drugs across the skin into systemic circulation. They are particularly advantageous for drugs with short half-lives or narrow therapeutic indices, as they maintain consistent plasma concentrations and reduce the risk of subtherapeutic or toxic levels.TDDS are categorized into monolithic, reservoir, and mixed systems. Monolithic systems embed the drug in a polymer matrix, where diffusion governs release. Reservoir systems...
Drug Delivery: Overview01:16

Drug Delivery: Overview

The selection of a drug's delivery route depends upon its physicochemical properties, including lipid or water solubility and ionization, as well as the therapeutic requirement, such as immediate or sustained effect. These routes can be divided into three primary categories: enteral, parenteral, and topical.
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the gastrointestinal...
Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes01:22

Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes

Drug delivery methods like oral inhalation, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, eye drops, intravitreal injection,  and rectal administration provide localized effects with reduced toxicity.
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs through the...
Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route01:29

Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route

The parenteral route is a critical method of drug administration. It delivers compounds directly into the systemic circulation and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. This approach is particularly advantageous for drugs that exhibit poor absorption or instability when administered orally.
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
Drug Delivery: Enteral Route01:18

Drug Delivery: Enteral Route

The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs.
Drugs in...
Non-Oral Extravascular Drug Absorption Routes01:15

Non-Oral Extravascular Drug Absorption Routes

Non-oral extravascular routes, which encompass sublingual, buccal, topical, intramuscular, and inhalation methods, primarily utilize passive diffusion to transport drugs into the systemic circulation. The absorption rates and effectiveness of these routes depend on the drug's physicochemical properties, as well as the patient's anatomical and pathophysiological state.
Lipophilic drugs that are stable at salivary pH (6) and exhibit minimal binding to the oral mucosa are absorbed more effectively...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Decentralised clinical trials of investigational medicinal products.

Drug discovery today·2026
Same author

Raman-assessed cutaneous pharmacokinetics of doxepin topical products.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026
Same author

Assessment of microneedle array insertion into skin using Raman spectroscopic techniques.

Drug delivery and translational research·2026
Same author

Raman spectroscopy as a tool to accelerate development of complex medicinal products.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2025
Same author

Correlative Optical Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry Imaging Methodology to Visualise Drug Distribution in a Soft Tissue Section.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2025
Same author

Cutaneous pharmacokinetics of a volatile drug post-application to the skin.

Drug delivery and translational research·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Visualizing and Quantifying Pharmaceutical Compounds within Skin using Coherent Raman Scattering Imaging
11:07

Visualizing and Quantifying Pharmaceutical Compounds within Skin using Coherent Raman Scattering Imaging

Published on: November 24, 2021

Transdermal drug delivery.

Richard H Guy1

  • 1Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA27AY, UK. r.h.guy@bath.ac.uk

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|March 11, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Transdermal drug delivery offers a proven method for pharmaceutical care, with recent approvals for novel entities. Advances stem from understanding skin barrier function and drug transport mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Dermatology
  • Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

  • Transdermal drug delivery has grown significantly since 1980, with numerous commercial successes.
  • A novel chemical entity was recently approved for transdermal administration without prior oral or injectable forms.
  • Progress is driven by a deeper understanding of skin barrier function and key physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and physiological factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the advancements in transdermal drug delivery.
  • To highlight novel approaches for enhancing transdermal transport.
  • To explore opportunities in local subcutaneous drug delivery.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature and commercial approvals in transdermal drug delivery.

More Related Videos

Fabrication of Dissolvable Microneedle Patches Loaded with α-Lactalbumin Nanomicelles for Transdermal Capsaicin Delivery and Adipose Tissue Reduction
06:33

Fabrication of Dissolvable Microneedle Patches Loaded with α-Lactalbumin Nanomicelles for Transdermal Capsaicin Delivery and Adipose Tissue Reduction

Published on: December 30, 2025

Development, Characterization, and Evaluation of CAGE-based Ionic Liquid Systems for Transdermal Delivery
09:44

Development, Characterization, and Evaluation of CAGE-based Ionic Liquid Systems for Transdermal Delivery

Published on: September 26, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Visualizing and Quantifying Pharmaceutical Compounds within Skin using Coherent Raman Scattering Imaging
11:07

Visualizing and Quantifying Pharmaceutical Compounds within Skin using Coherent Raman Scattering Imaging

Published on: November 24, 2021

Fabrication of Dissolvable Microneedle Patches Loaded with α-Lactalbumin Nanomicelles for Transdermal Capsaicin Delivery and Adipose Tissue Reduction
06:33

Fabrication of Dissolvable Microneedle Patches Loaded with α-Lactalbumin Nanomicelles for Transdermal Capsaicin Delivery and Adipose Tissue Reduction

Published on: December 30, 2025

Development, Characterization, and Evaluation of CAGE-based Ionic Liquid Systems for Transdermal Delivery
09:44

Development, Characterization, and Evaluation of CAGE-based Ionic Liquid Systems for Transdermal Delivery

Published on: September 26, 2025

  • Analysis of factors influencing skin permeation and drug transport.
  • Investigation of emerging technologies like iontophoresis.
  • Exploration of local drug delivery strategies.

    • Main Results:

    • Transdermal drug delivery is a validated technology with substantial growth and commercial success.
    • Understanding skin barrier function and transport factors has enabled new developments.
    • Novel non-invasive methods for drug transport enhancement are under investigation.
    • Technologies like iontophoresis have matured, and local subcutaneous delivery is gaining acceptance.

    Conclusions:

    • Transdermal drug delivery continues to evolve, offering significant pharmaceutical care benefits.
    • Continued research into skin penetration and novel delivery systems will drive future innovation.
    • Opportunities exist for expanding local drug delivery applications beyond systemic administration.