TRANSDERMAL PERMEATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULES BY SKIN ELECTROPORATION

Electroporation of skin has recently been shown to enhance transport o f charged molecules across skin by up to four orders of magnitude. Thi s study demonstrates that high-voltage pulses can also increase transd ermal permeation of two neutral model solutes, i.e, mannitol and water , up to 100-fold. The elevated flux results from the persistent increa se in skin permeability following electroporation, rather than from el ectro-osmosis during pulsing. Control on transport was achieved by con trolling the electrical parameters of the pulse, i.e. the pulse voltag e, time constant and number. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.