Enhancement of emulsion penetration in agarose gel model using flexible plasma treatment

Transdermal delivery through the skin is an attractive alternative to injection because it is possible to release a drug with less pain. We prepared a flexible plasma patch (FPP) using printed electronics techniques and tested transdermal delivery enhancement of a water emulsion in agarose gel in anin vitrotissue model. At room temperature, the FPP generated cold air plasma, which supplied reactive oxygen species such as ozone on the surface of the agarose gel. The FPP treatment was effective in enhancing the water emulsion transport into the agarose gel. The penetration depth of the emulsion in the non-plasma-treated 3% agarose gel model was approximately 0.69 mm while that of the plasma-treated model was approximately 1.21 mm.