[Augmentation of transdermal drug penetration]

Transdermal drug delivery is an alternative to conventional routes of administration. It is limited due to the low permeability of the skin. Iontophoresis (application of low intensity current) and electroporation (application of high voltage pulses) increase drug delivery by several orders of magnitude. The mechanisms and the parameters controlling drug transport as well as safety issues have been studied. New therapeutic applications for the delivery of drugs, peptides and nucleic acids, have been developed.