Study describes a new method for transdermal drug delivery of hydrophilic formulations based on conduction heating rather than radiation.
Wausau, WI (July 10, 2019) – Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is the use of light with a drug called a photosensitizer to treat various conditions on the body. Successful delivery of a photosensitizer into the skin is an important factor for effective photodynamic therapy. Percutaneous drug delivery (PDD) is a means of increasing the uptake of topically applied agents into the skin. This study evaluates the efficacy of pre-treatment by thermomechanical fractional injury (TMFI) (Tixel®, Novoxel®, Israel) at low-energy light device settings in increasing the permeability of the skin to four known 5‐amino‐levulinic‐acid hydrochloride (ALA) photosensitizer medications.
The clinical report of this study, published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (LSM), the official journal of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS), was selected as the July 2019 Editor’s Choice.
The study, led by Ronen Shavit, MSc is titled “A New Method for Percutaneous Drug Delivery by Thermo‐Mechanical Fractional Injury.” The study concluded that TMFI treatment seems to provide an alternative, radiation‐free, low‐energy approach for effective delivery of compounded 20% ALA gel.
“The new method for transdermal drug delivery provides low pain, low energy treatment that will allow in the near future a local treatment for selected dermal diseases such as psoriasis, hemangioma, acne and more, instead of systemic drug delivery that affects the whole body. In addition, the low pain provides a new treatment method for children,” said Shavit.
Ronen Shavit, BSc and MSc in mechanical engineering specialized in bio-materials. He has developed medical devices for over 20 years in a variety of medical fields: orthopedics, dermatology, urology including multidisciplinary projects combining materials, control, electronics and mechanical design.
Editor’s Choice is an exclusive article published in LSM, the official journal of the ASLMS. View the complete manuscript.
The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS) is the largest multi-disciplinary professional organization, dedicated to the development and application of lasers and related technology for health care applications. ASLMS promotes excellence in patient care by advancing biomedical application of lasers and other related technologies worldwide. ASLMS membership includes physicians and surgeons representing multiple specialties, physicists involved in product development, biomedical engineers, biologists, nurses, industry representatives and manufacturers. For more information, visit aslms.org.