Facilitated Transdermal Drug Delivery Using Nanocarriers-Embedded Electroconductive Hydrogel Coupled with Reverse Electrodialysis-Driven Iontophoresis

Abstract

We herein developed an iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery system for the effective delivery of electrically mobile drug nanocarriers (DNs). Our system consists of a portable and disposable reverse electrodialysis (RED) battery that generates electric power for iontophoresis through the ionic exchange. In addition, in order to provide a drug reservoir to the RED-driven iontophoretic system, an electroconductive hydrogel composed of polypyrrole-incorporated poly(vinyl alcohol) (PYP) was used. The PYP hydrogel facilitated electron transfer from the RED battery and accelerated the mobility of electrically mobile DNs released from the PYP hydrogel. In this study, we showed that fluconazoleor rosiglitazone-loaded DNs could be functionalized with charge-inducing agents, and DNs with charge modification resulted in facilitated transdermal transport via repulsive RED-driven iontophoresis. In addition, topical application and RED-driven iontophoresis of rosiglitazone-loaded DNs resulted in an effective antiobese condition displaying decreased bodyweight, reduced glucose level, and increased conversion of white adipose tissues to brown adipose tissues in vivo. Consequently, we highlight that this transdermal drug delivery platform would be extensively utilized for delivering diverse therapeutic agents in a noninvasive way.

A High Strength Hydrogel with a Core–Shell Structure Simultaneously Serving as Strain Sensor and Solar Water Evaporator

“…Hydrogels are 3D cross‐linked networks of hydrophilic polymers that can absorb and retain large amounts of water without dissolving. Due to its excellent flexibility and biocompatibility, hydrogels are of high research value in drug transportation, [ 1,2 ] wound dressing, [ 3,4 ] solar evaporators, [ 5–7 ] and flexible sensors. [ 8–11 ] In recent years, with the development of the internet and communication technology, human‐computer interaction has become an important field in the future development of materials.…”

Conductive Hydrogel‐Based Electrodes and Electrolytes for Stretchable and Self‐Healable Supercapacitors

“…[ 30–33 ] Thus, CHs combine the superiorities of both the hydrogels and the conductive fillers and exhibit performances better than the sum of the two constituents. The distinct physical and chemical properties render them promising for tissue engineering, [ 34–37 ] environmental engineering, [ 38 ] sensors, [ 39–44 ] biomedical devices, [ 45–48 ] drug delivery systems, [ 49–53 ] and flexible energy storage devices, [ 27,54–59 ] as illustrated in Figure . One attractive characteristic of CHs for use in SCs is that they can serve as both electrodes and electrolytes.…”

Recent Progress of Nanogenerators Acting as Self‐Powered Drug Delivery Devices

“…developed an iontophoretic transdermal DDS utilizing polypyrrole incorporated poly(vinyl alcohol) (PYP) and disposable reverse electrodialysis battery, which could electrically mobile Fluconazole and Rosiglitazone for the treatment of diet‐induced obese mice. [ 11 ]…”