Transdermal Drug Delivery and Lipid Based Transdermal Formulations

The route by which a drug is delivered into the systemic circulation can have a remarkable effect on its efficiency. Conventional routes involve oral and intravenous administration. However, these approaches have been found to have several limitations. In this context, transdermal drug delivery system has been developed or being developed to vanquish the downsides associated with conventional strategies. Transdermal drug delivery system avoids first pass hepatic metabolism, improved patient compliances, easy termination of therapy, the possibility of self-administration, etc. However the permeability of drug molecules across the skin is exceptionally low due to the presence of compactly packed lipid rich matrix of the skin outermost layer, the stratum corneum. The book presents the basics of transdermal drug delivery system and lipid based transdermal formulations to overcome the skin barrier function.