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Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Visualizing and Quantifying Pharmaceutical Compounds within Skin using Coherent Raman Scattering Imaging
Published on: November 24, 2021
Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems: Methods for Enhancing Skin Permeability and Their Evaluation
Elena O Bakhrushina1, Marina M Shumkova1, Yana V Avdonina1
1A.P. Nelyubin Institute of Pharmacy, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119048, Russia.
Transdermal drug delivery (TDD) enhances drug efficacy and reduces side effects by improving skin penetration. Recent advancements utilize chemical, physical, and nanotechnology methods for optimized drug delivery systems.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Transdermal drug delivery (TDD) offers a non-invasive route for administering Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
- Increasing demand for patient-friendly treatments drives innovation in TDD.
- The stratum corneum presents a significant barrier to effective transdermal permeation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in enhancing skin permeability for TDD.
- To identify innovative methods and materials for overcoming the stratum corneum barrier.
- To emphasize the importance of various enhancement strategies and evaluation techniques.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature analysis of scientific publications, regulatory guidelines, and patents.
- Review of chemical enhancers (ethanol, fatty acids, terpenes).
- Analysis of physical methods (iontophoresis, microneedles, sonophoresis) and nanotechnological systems (liposomes, ethosomes, SLNs, transferosomes).
- Emphasis on in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo evaluation techniques, including Franz diffusion cells.
Main Results:
- Chemical enhancers, physical methods, and nanocarriers significantly improve skin permeability.
- Active physical methods and passive nanostructured systems show particular promise.
- Various evaluation techniques are crucial for assessing TDD system performance.
Conclusions:
- Multiple analytical techniques are essential for the rational design and optimization of TDD systems.
- Integration of chemical, physical, and nanotechnology approaches is key to overcoming skin barrier challenges.
- Future TDD development requires a multidisciplinary approach combining formulation science and advanced delivery technologies.
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