Laser ablation and topical drug delivery: a review of recent advances

Introduction: The ablative laser can be used as an effective approach for enhancing drug permeation via the skin. The enhancement mechanisms of laser-assisted drug permeation are the direct ablation of the superficial skin, optical breakdown by a photomechanical wave, and a photothermal effect. Areas covered: This review describes the development of laser-assisted drug delivery in the recent 5 years. This review systematically introduces the concepts and enhancement mechanisms of the technique, highlighting the potential of the laser approach for increasing drug absorption via the skin. A recent advance of this approach is the use of fractional laser offering limited skin damage and short recovery time. Another sign of progress regarding laser-assisted drug delivery in the recent 5 years is the clinical trials for treating various dermatological disorders. Expert opinion: The potential use of the laser-assisted approach affords a novel treatment for topical drug application with significant efficacy. Although many clinical studies have been performed, further studies using a large group for patients are needed to confirm and clarify the findings in the in vitro or animal experiments. The laser-assisted delivery should be optimized to achieve skin targeting without the risk of diffusion into circulation.