CHEMICAL PENETRATION ENHANCERS FOR TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

Abstract

In present scenario more than 70% of the drugs that are taken by oral route are found to be less effective as desired, to overcome this constraint Transdermal drug delivery system has emerged as an innovative area of research, this system helps in delivering the drugs and macromolecules through skin into systemic circulation. At present, the worldwide market of Transdermal patch has reached 2 billion pounds. Many drugs like Estrogen, Progestrone, Nitroglycerine, Clonodine etc. are fabricated in form of Transdermal patches due to its ability to deliver the drug in non-invasive manner and also to overcome the problems associated with oral route. Although the Transdermal patches deliver the drug at predetermined rate1, the partitioning of drug from the system to the skin and then penetration through different layers of skin can be altered by adding penetration enhancers that can be physical or chemical in nature. This article deals with the role of different chemicals that can be used as penetration enhancer. Keywords: Penetration enhancer, Layer of skin, Fatty alcohol and glycol