ENHANCEMENT OF PERCUTANEOUS-ABSORPTION OF PROPRANOLOL HYDROCHLORIDE BY IONTOPHORESIS

Iontophoresis is defined as the migration of ions when an electric cur rent passes through a solution containing ionized species. When applie d transdermally, iontophoresis may reduce the barrier porperties of sk in and may enhance the transdermal permeation of drugs. This research work was aimed at exploring the factors which influence the effectiven ess of iontophoresis facilitated transport of ionized species across t he skin, and comparing it with that by passive diffusion. Propranolol hydrochloride was selected as the model drug, and rat abdominal skin a s the in-vitro animal model. Pulse de was applied, at 2.16/3/6/9 mA/cm (2); 1:1 or 4:1 duty cycle and 20 KHz frequency for 15/25 minutes. Fac tors which modify the iontophoretic drug delivery, such as drug concen tration, current density, duty-cycle of pulse de, and duration of iont ophoresis, were also evaluated. It was found that iontophoresis causes a significant increase in transdermal permeation of Propranolol hydro chloride in-vitro through rat abdominal skin, as compared to that by p assive diffusion.