Transdermal drug delivery: useful paradigms

The successful development of transdermal delivery systems requires a systematic evaluation and understanding of a number of complex phenomena. For example, the study of drug transport through skin (and other biomembranes) has lead to a significant advance in our ability to select drugs which are appropriate for transdermal delivery. Drug release from the transdermal system is also crucial to effective drug delivery and provides a clear opportunity for research in adhesion, polymer physical chemistry, mass transport, and film coating, to name a few. The incorporation of several disciplines into transdermal science holds the exciting promise to provide rapid advances in this technology.