Skin laser treatments enhancing transdermal delivery of ALA

Drug delivery across skin has been limited due to barrier properties of the skin, especially those of the stratum corneum (SC). Use of the laser radiation has been suggested for the controlled removal of the SC. The purpose of this study was to study in vitro the influence of infrared radiation from the erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser (λ = 2940  nm), and visible from the 2nd harmonic of a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (λ = 532  nm) on transdermal delivery of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Pinna skin of the inner side of rabbit ear was used for skin permeation. The light sources were an Er:YAG laser (Key III Plus KaVo) and a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (Lotis TII SL-2132). Permeation study, morphological and structural skin examination by histology and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were carried out. Permeation profiles and histological observations obtained after irradiation with infrared and visible laser radiation differed due to different biophysical effects on irradiated skin. Wavelength of 2940  nm required lower energy contribution to produce the same level of permeation than visible radiation at 532  nm. Structural analysis by DSC shows a selective impact on the lipidic structure. Laser pretreatment enhanced the delivery of ALA trough the skin by SC ablation.