Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics
Open Access

Abstract

Transdermal drug delivery is characterized by a controlled continuous delivery of drug molecules from skin surfaces, through its layers, and into the systemic circulation. It bypasses enzymatic digestion in gastrointestinal tract and hepatic portal system which can lead to excessive drug degradation and therapeutic ineffectiveness. Nevertheless, the skin permeation propensity of most drugs is practically low due to the impermeable nature of stratum corneum, the uppermost layer of epidermis. A wide range of innovation has been created to enhance the skin permeability to drugs. The current advances include micro-needles, iontophoresis, sonophoresis, photomechanical waves, electroporation and pressurized air techniques. Starting from the year of 2008, Non-Destructive Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Centre investigates microwave of specific characteristics for its potential as transdermal permeation enhancer. The idea of involving microwave to modify the microstructure of skin stems from the fact that microwave is able to amorphize drug crystals and exert macromolecular rearrangement in pharmaceutical matrices via hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction and/or hydrophobic interaction in the past dosage form design studies. It implies that the microwave can possibly disturb the lipid and protein regimes of epidermis or dermis to facilitate drug diffusion or partition across the skin barrier. This presentation aims to provide the skin permeation enhancement mechanism of microwave for transdermal drug delivery and its relations with chemical permeation enhancer, physical states of dosage form applied on skin and nanotechnology. In addition, issues related to safety, in vivo drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics profiles, transdermal delivery combination techniques, integrated drug administration and analytical microwave device, clinical trial and commercialization will be addressed.

Biography

Email: wongtinwui@salam.uitm.edu.my wongtinwui@yahoo.com