EFFECT OF AZONE ON THE IONTOPHORETIC TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF METOPROLOL TARTRATE THROUGH HUMAN EPIDERMIS IN-VITRO

This study was attempted to investigate the effect of Atone on the tra nsdermal iontophoretic transport of metoprolol tartrate (MPL) through human epidermis in vitro. Investigations were done to probe the mechan ism of action of this enhancer, and to see whether there is any synerg istic effect of this enhancer in conjunction with iontophoresis. Along with comparison of iontophoretic and passive transport of the drug in presence of the enhancer, parameters like steady state flux (Jss), pe rmeability coefficient (Kp) and enhancement factors (E) were evaluated . It was found that both during passive diffusion and iontophoresis, A tone caused increased transport of the drug through human epidermis an d the transport was increased 130-fold during iontophoresis compared t o passive flux. These results were supported by scanning electron micr oscopy studies of the epidermis after experimentation.