Percutaneous delivery of proteins and peptides using iontophoretic techniques.

There has been much interest recently in the delivery of proteins and peptides following the research and development of biotechnology: derived drugs and other bioactive substances. This article summarizes the use of iontophoresis to deliver proteins and peptides across the skin. This technique offers considerable promise for delivering drugs in therapeutic amounts by bypassing the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and liver metabolism. This article discusses the theory underlying iontophoretic drug delivery and the devices available. The future development of these systems would require the use of specialized approaches to enhance delivery of larger molecules but overall there is considerable optimism.