Percutaneous penetration enhancers: An overview

Transdermal drug delivery is the controlled release of drugs through the skin to obtain therapeutic levels systematically. Several technological advances have been made in the recent decades to enhance percutaneous drug penetration. This overview focuses on the physical, biochemical, and chemical means of penetration enhancement, as well as the classification and mechanisms of chemical penetration enhancers, their application in transdermal drug delivery, and trends and development in penetration enhancement. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.