Enhancement of drug delivery across the skin barrier using iontophoresis technique: pros, cons, and novel findings from representative studies

Abstract

Iontophoresis has been utilised to deliver medications in physical therapy for a long time, but its applications in treating diseases are still limited. This stemmed partly from its complicated and unsafe instrumentation as well as insufficient scientific evidence. Over the past decade, however, the design and safety aspects of iontophoresis devices have been dramatically improved. More importantly, various optimistic results were revealed from many scientific studies, especially its potential to actively transport large molecules and nanoparticles across the skin barrier that attracts great attention from both academia and industry. This paper aimed to review the advantages and disadvantages of the technique and representative transdermal enhancement studies using iontophoresis.