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Photomechanical transdermal delivery: The effect of laser confinement
Author(s) -
Lee Shun,
McAuliffe Daniel J.,
Flotte Thomas J.,
Kollias Nikiforos,
Doukas Apostolos G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1060
Subject(s) - stratum corneum , transdermal , ablation , penetration (warfare) , dermis , penetration depth , laser , biomedical engineering , materials science , biophysics , optics , medicine , anatomy , pathology , physics , operations research , biology , engineering , pharmacology
Background and Objective Photomechanical waves can transiently permeabilize the stratum corneum and facilitate the delivery of drugs into the epidermis and dermis. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of pulse characteristics to the penetration depth of macromolecules delivered into the skin. Study Design/Materials and Methods Photomechanical waves were generated by confined ablation with a Q‐switched ruby laser. Fluorescence microscopy of frozen biopsies was used to assay the delivery of macromolecules through the stratum corneum and determine the depth of penetration. Results Photomechanical waves generated by confined ablation of the target have a longer rise time and duration than those generated by direct ablation. Confined ablation required a lower radiant exposure (from ∼7 J/cm 2 to ∼5 J/cm 2 ) for an increase in the depth of delivery (from ∼50μm to ∼400μm). Conclusions Control of the characteristics of the photomechanical waves is important for transdermal delivery as they can affect the depth of drug penetration into the dermis. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:344–347, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.