In an age of rapidly developing medical
technology, the popularity and need for a noninvasive means of
drug delivery is growing. Transdermal medication delivery has
shown to be a success for small molecules like nicotine and some
female hormones. However, diffusion of large molecules across
skin requires active facilitation. Methods currently studied
include ultrasound, iontophoresis, and microneedle arrays.
The aim of this project would be to
study the effects of ultrasound on a semi-permeable membrane
(fake skin) in hopes of finding the intensity and duration range
of ultrasound needed to optimize the delivery of macromolecules
without damage to the membrane. Design parameters include the
development of a plexi-glass container in which to situate the “skin” and
monitor the diffusion effects of large molecules due to ultrasound.
Depending on the type of indicator used, chemical assays may
needed in order to determine the amount of indicator that had
diffused through the membrane transdermally. Another goal of
this project would be to compare results using a synthetic semi-permeable
membrane to the results using animal skin from a butcher shop
or grocery store.
The results of this project have many
implications in the future of noninvasive drug delivery. Ultrasound-faciltated
transdermal diffusion (UFTD) may be used in anesthetics, pain
relievers and large hormones. Also, UFTD can be used to deliver
insulin to diabetics and erythropoietin to anemics. UFTD decreases
the amount of biohazardous wastes created compared to that created
by invasive methods. UFTD increases the efficiency of drug delivery
compared to that of medications taken orally. And, UFTD increases
the reliability of steady flow of medication over long periods
of time.
