In vitro iontophoretic release of lithium chloride and lidocaine hydrochloride from polymer electrolytes

Ionically conducting polymers, frequently known as polymer electrolytes, ar e potential candidates as hosts for drugs to be delivered iontophoretically . The iontophoretic delivery of lithium or lidocaine from polymer electroly te films through a cellophane membrane was examined using different deliver y current regimes. Thin, mechanically strong, polymer electrolyte films wer e fabricated from poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with lithium chloride or lidoc aine hydrochloride. Experiments showed that iontophoretic transport of both lithium chloride and lidocaine hydrochloride might be achieved from these PEO-based films. Cation transport number determinations give values for PEO -based films of about 0.4 for lithium chloride systems and 0.12 for lidocai ne hydrochloride systems. The mechanism of transport from these PEO-based p olymer electrolyte films allows the delivery of ionic salts such as lithium chloride and lidocaine hydrochloride to be controlled solely by current, t hus providing a system that can deliver precise amounts of drug.