Iontophoresis is an effective and painless method of delivering medication to a localized tissue area by applying electrical current to a solution of the medication. The diagram below illustrates the basic mechanism. Like electrical charges repel. Therefore, application of a positive current will drive positively charged drug molecules away from the electrode and into the tissues; similarly, a negative current will drive negatively charge ions into the tissues.
Iontophoresis of pilocarpine has been the preferred method of testing infants for cystic fibrosis since 1978. The major component of this test is collection of sweat, which is accomplished by iontophoretic delivery of safe and optimal quantities of pilocarpine for sweat stimulation (equivalent to five minutes of iontophoresis at 1.5 mA).
References:
1. Sens, D.A, Simmons, M.A., and Spicer, S.S., The analysis of human sweat proteins by isoelectric focusing. I. sweat collection utilizing the Macroduct system demonstrates the presence of previously unrecognized sex-related proteins, Pediatr Res., 19, 8, 873-878, 1985.
2. J. Micheal Maloney, MD, J.L. Bezzant, MD, R.L. Stephen, MD, T. Petelenz, MD, Iontophoretic Administration of Local Anesthesia in Office Practice, J Dermatol Surg Oncol, 18, 937-940, 1992.
3. L.P. Gangarosa, Defining a practical solution for iontophoretic local anesthesia of skin, Clinical Pharmacology, 3, (2), 83, 1981.
1. Sens, D.A, Simmons, M.A., and Spicer, S.S., The analysis of human sweat proteins by isoelectric focusing. I. sweat collection utilizing the Macroduct system demonstrates the presence of previously unrecognized sex-related proteins, Pediatr Res., 19, 8, 873-878, 1985.
2. J. Micheal Maloney, MD, J.L. Bezzant, MD, R.L. Stephen, MD, T. Petelenz, MD, Iontophoretic Administration of Local Anesthesia in Office Practice, J Dermatol Surg Oncol, 18, 937-940, 1992.
3. L.P. Gangarosa, Defining a practical solution for iontophoretic local anesthesia of skin, Clinical Pharmacology, 3, (2), 83, 1981.
