Preface

“Physical penetration enhancers: Therapeutic applications and devices”, is the second volume of the series “Current technologies to increase the transdermal delivery of drugs” from Bentham Science Publishers. This book provides an overview of main current physical enhancers in the therapeutical and pharmacy field. The importance of therapeutical applications of physical enhancers, and devices existing in the market will be addressed in each chapter. Exclusive chapters on Iontophoresis, Sonophoresis, Electroporation, Microneedles, Radiofrequency and more recently the use of nanoparticles in combination with the above mentioned physical enhancers, highlighting their main therapeutic applications will be included in this book.

Currently, there are no unique books available on therapeutical applications of physical penetration enhancers and currently devices in the market. Brief chapters and books describing only one of the physical enhancers or only one of the therapeutical applications (i.e., transdermal drug delivery) of these enhancers are available to readers in some drug delivery or toxicology books. For these reasons, more detailed information about therapeutical applications (drug delivery, gene therapy, physiotherapy, skin disorders, vaccination, etc.) is now needed. This book presents a general overview of the theoretical and therapeutic aspects of iontophoresis, electroporation, sonophoresis, microneedles, radiofrequency and nanocarriers systems in combination with physical enhancers. Such a generalized approach would be helpful in medicine, pharmacy, drug discovery, drug delivery and toxicological research.

A comprehensive book which provides the basis and updated therapeutical research information is necessary. For this fact, this e-book will be an interesting option that could be used by students and academics of medicine, biopharmacy, pharmaceutical technology, design and development of drugs, pharmacology, by physicians, dermatologists, scientists and pharmaceutical R & Ds. The book also will be useful for medicine, pharmacy, pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology departments of different Universities all over the world.

In summary, this e-book reviews the therapeutical uses of physical enhancers such as iontophoresis, sonophoresis, electroporation, microneedles, radiofrequency and nanocarriers in combination with physical enhancers. After an introduction, definition, mechanisms of action, the focus turns to the relevance of therapeutical applications studies and finally the different physical enhancer devices in the market.