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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
09:44
Development, Characterization, and Evaluation of CAGE-based Ionic Liquid Systems for Transdermal Delivery
Published on: September 26, 2025
Functional ionic liquids for enhanced transdermal drug delivery: Recent advances and future perspectives
Yutao Tan1, Xinyuan Qin1, Qisheng Chen1
1Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Ionic liquids (ILs) offer advanced transdermal drug delivery for skin diseases. Functional ILs and novel platforms enhance drug penetration and therapeutic efficiency, overcoming conventional formulation limitations.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Materials Science
- Dermatology
Background:
- Ionic liquids (ILs) possess unique tunable properties beneficial for drug delivery.
- Conventional transdermal formulations face challenges like poor drug solubility and limited skin penetration.
- ILs show promise in overcoming these limitations for treating skin diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in IL-based transdermal drug delivery systems.
- To focus on functional or active pharmaceutical ingredient-ionic liquids (API-ILs).
- To discuss design principles, safety, and future trends in IL transdermal applications.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent literature on ILs in transdermal drug delivery.
- Analysis of IL design principles, structure-property relationships, and safety.
- Evaluation of IL-enabled delivery platforms (ionogels, microemulsions, microneedles, nanocarriers).
Main Results:
- ILs enable precise control over drug permeability, solubility, and biocompatibility through molecular engineering.
- IL-enabled platforms demonstrate superior drug loading, enhanced transdermal transport, and improved therapeutic outcomes.
- Active pharmaceutical ingredient-ionic liquids (API-ILs) represent a key development.
Conclusions:
- IL-based strategies offer significant potential for advancing transdermal drug delivery, particularly for dermatological conditions.
- Further research into safety, regulatory aspects, and emerging trends like AI-assisted design is crucial.
- ILs are poised to transform the treatment landscape for skin diseases.
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