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Article: Skin deep delivery: human skin may be one of the best living barriers known, but scientists are finding novel ways to penetrate its defences.(Drug delivery)
- Article from:
- Chemistry and Industry
- Article date:
- February 11, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Society of Chemical Industry. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
In brief
* Transdermal patches offer a convenient and patient-friendly drug delivery option, often with fewer side-effects
* Advances in active transdermal delivery could lead to more drugs being delivered via the skin, at higher doses
* Iontopheretic devices employ an electrical current to deliver charged drugs into the skin
* Microneedles that penetrate the outer layer of skin promise to improve efficiencies
The skin is the largest and most accessible organ of the human body, with a surface area of approximately 1.7[m.sup.2]. Its main function is to form a barrier to invasion by ...