Enhancement of transdermal drug delivery by using a Laval nozzle to intensify shock waves generated by pulsed discharge plasma

Abstract

This study aims to enhance the efficiency of transdermal drug delivery (TDD) by developing a portable pulsed discharge plasma device, which produces shock waves. The device generates low doses of active substances without the need for rare gases and makes use of a Laval nozzle to produce stronger plasma-accompanied shock waves. Experiments show that this device effectively promotes the transdermal permeation of both small and large molecular drugs, and the shock wave's role in enhancing TDD is significant. The synergy between the shock waves and the plasma-induced active substances improves the TDD effectiveness, providing a new path for noninvasive TDD.