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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
07:29
Intravascular Delivery of Biologics to the Rat Kidney
Published on: September 1, 2016
Transdermal delivery of biologics
Lalitkumar K Vora1, B H Jaswanth Gowda2, Jordan Strauss3
1School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
Summary
Transdermal delivery offers a minimally invasive way to administer biologics, overcoming challenges like instability and poor patient acceptance. This review evaluates various strategies for effective transdermal biologic delivery, identifying opportunities and limitations for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Dermatology
Background:
- Biologics (peptides, proteins, antibodies, vaccines, nucleic acids) have revolutionized disease management but face administration and stability challenges.
- Current invasive routes limit wider biologic therapeutic use, necessitating improved delivery methods.
- Transdermal delivery presents a minimally invasive alternative, but the skin's barrier properties impede large biomolecule transport.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate conventional and emerging transdermal biologic delivery strategies.
- To assess these strategies based on biologic compatibility, scalability, and clinical readiness.
- To identify realistic opportunities and remaining limitations for transdermal biologics in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of chemical enhancers, physical methods (iontophoresis, sonophoresis, electroporation, microneedles), nanocarriers, and advanced platforms.
- Analysis of mechanisms, biologic compatibility, dose capacity, delivery depth, and scalability for each method.
- Consideration of formulation stability, pharmacokinetic feasibility, and translational barriers.
Main Results:
- Various transdermal technologies show promise, including microneedles, nanocarriers, and wearable systems.
- Key factors influencing success include biologic class, dose requirements, and formulation stability.
- Smart systems, AI/ML, and 3D printing offer future advancements in transdermal biologic delivery.
Conclusions:
- Transdermal delivery of biologics faces significant hurdles, including stability, scalability, and regulatory complexity.
- Despite challenges, advancements in delivery technologies and formulation design present realistic opportunities for patient-friendly biologic administration.
- Further research integrating mechanistic, formulation, device, and translational perspectives is crucial for clinical implementation.
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