Laser ablation-enhanced transdermal drug delivery

Abstract

Transdermal delivery offers an excellent route for drug and vaccine administration. Nonetheless, the lipid-rich outer stratum corneum layer of the skin presents a critical challenge to drug penetration. Laser ablation perforates epidermis through selective photothermolysis, making skin more permeable to hydrophilic and macromolecular drugs such as peptides, proteins, and genes. This review summarizes recent applications to laser ablation-enhanced transdermal delivery. Needle- and pain-free transcutaneous drug delivery via laser ablation provides an alternative approach to achieve local or systemic therapeutics. © 2013 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.