Challenges to laser-assisted drug delivery: Applying theory to clinical practice

TY - JOUR

T1 - Challenges to laser-assisted drug delivery

T2 - Applying theory to clinical practice

AU - Ibrahim, Omer

AU - Wenande, Emily

AU - Hogan, Sara

AU - Arndt, Kenneth A

AU - Hædersdal, Merete

AU - Dover, Jeffrey S

N1 - Special Issue: Dermatology Plastic Surgery

PY - 2018/1

Y1 - 2018/1

N2 - Background: The percutaneous penetration of topically applied compounds can be enhanced using external chemical or physical sources and thus laser-assisted drug delivery is a burgeoning area of interest within the field of dermatology. Objectives: This article briefly discusses the mechanism of laser-assisted drug delivery and expands upon the challenges and safety issues that may arise in the clinical implementation of this modality. Results: The existing literature demonstrates that investigators and clinicians in dermatology have successfully delivered anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, and anti-oxidative medications transdermally for the treatment of a variety of conditions including scarring, photoageing, and cutaneous neoplasia. Despite growth of the field, much remains to be learned about the applicability of laser-assisted drug delivery in humans, and practitioners are faced with new safety concerns that may be associated with this treatment modality. Conclusions: Challenges in laser assisted drug delivery include unpredictability of dosing and response to therapy, possibility of inducing local and systemic reactions, and variability in treatment regimens. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:20–27, 2018.

AB - Background: The percutaneous penetration of topically applied compounds can be enhanced using external chemical or physical sources and thus laser-assisted drug delivery is a burgeoning area of interest within the field of dermatology. Objectives: This article briefly discusses the mechanism of laser-assisted drug delivery and expands upon the challenges and safety issues that may arise in the clinical implementation of this modality. Results: The existing literature demonstrates that investigators and clinicians in dermatology have successfully delivered anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, and anti-oxidative medications transdermally for the treatment of a variety of conditions including scarring, photoageing, and cutaneous neoplasia. Despite growth of the field, much remains to be learned about the applicability of laser-assisted drug delivery in humans, and practitioners are faced with new safety concerns that may be associated with this treatment modality. Conclusions: Challenges in laser assisted drug delivery include unpredictability of dosing and response to therapy, possibility of inducing local and systemic reactions, and variability in treatment regimens. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:20–27, 2018.

KW - Administration, Cutaneous

KW - Drug Delivery Systems/instrumentation

KW - Humans

KW - Lasers, Gas

KW - Lasers, Solid-State

U2 - 10.1002/lsm.22769

DO - 10.1002/lsm.22769

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29154501

SN - 0196-8092

VL - 50

SP - 20

EP - 27

JO - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine

JF - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine

IS - 1

ER -