One of the major areas of research in the medical device industry is how to effectively deliver drugs to their target sites. The gold standard for systemic delivery of drugs is an intravenous (IV) injection, though it is not a great way to deliver meds that address chronic needs because of the pain and inconvenience. There have been exciting developments in transdermal delivery, such as the nicotine and birth control patches, though certain molecules and drugs do not easily diffuse through the epidermal layer to reach the more vascularized layers below.
One potential solution is to first prepare the skin by adding micropores through which the drug can be transported. Lichtenstein-based Pantec Biosolutions AG has just announced the launch of their P.L.E.A.S.E Professional compact bench-top laser which does just that. The company was originally founded to find alternative needle-free methods to deliver hormones important for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Their Er:YAG laser (typical wavelength of 2940 nm) features a pulse repetition rate of up to 500 Hz, which enables it to change the micropore density on the skin.
According to company’s website and press release, applications range from aesthetics and dermatology (e.g. wrinkle reduction and scar removal) to research (e.g. transdermal delivery of other high molecular-weight drugs). Below is one of Pantec’s videos that features a cool animation of the fundamental technology. We look forward to seeing how this platform is applied.
Press release: Pantec Biosolutions Launches P.L.E.A.S.E.® Professional Laser Device for Dermatology and Aesthetic Applications at BioPharm America
Product page: P.L.E.A.S.E.® Professional
Flashbacks: Pantec’s P.L.E.A.S.E.Transdermal Therapeutic System Shows Early Clinical Success; P.L.E.A.S.E. = Painless Laser Epidermal System; P.L.E.A.S.E. To Improve Effectiveness of Drug Patches