Conjugation of iontophoresis and minimally invasive techniques to improve transdermal drug delivery

Abstract

Iontophoresis is an active drug delivery technique that has been demonstrated to significantly enhance the transdermal permeability of numerous active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), especially with hydrophilic drugs and large molecules. However, the technique poses limitations in delivering medications reaching therapeutic concentrations of high-dose drugs, proteins, and nanoparticles. Conjugation of iontophoresis with minimally invasive delivery techniques for further improving transdermal absorption is a potential approach to those limitations. Succonjugation possesses great potential to widen the application range of topical dosage forms to various APIs and drug carrier systems. This article aimed to review the fundamental as well as results of studies applying the approach of combining iontophoresis with minimally invasive drug delivery techniques, namely electroporation, chemical enhancers, low-frequency ultrasound, microneedle arrays, and magnetophoresis.