PENETRATION ENHANCERS: A NOVEL STRATEGY FOR ENHANCING TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY

Abstract

Skin penetration enhancers have been used to improve bioavailability and increase the range of drugs to be administered by topical and transdermal route. Enhancement in skin penetration via modification of the stratum corneum by hydration, or via use of chemical enhancers acting on the structure of the stratum corneum lipids and keratin, partitioning and solubility effects. The mechanism of action of penetration enhancers are used as an aid in potential clinical applications. Synthetic chemicals generally used for this purposes are rapidly losing their value in transdermal patches due to reports of their absorption into the systemic circulation and subsequent possible toxic effect upon long term application. Terpenes are included in the list of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substances and have low irritancy potential. In this review, we have discussed the chemical penetration as well as natural penetration enhancement technology for transdermal drug delivery as well as the probable mechanisms of action.