Efficient Intradermal Delivery of Superoxide Dismutase Using a Combination of Liposomes and Iontophoresis for Protection Against UV-Induced Skin Damage

The study demonstrated that a combination of liposomes and iontophoresis effectively delivered superoxide dismutase (SOD) into the skin of rats, providing protection against UV-induced damage. This method overcame the challenge of SOD's high molecular weight, which typically hinders its penetration through the stratum corneum. The iontophoretic treatment facilitated the diffusion of SOD-encapsulating liposomes into the viable skin layer, particularly around hair follicles, significantly reducing oxidative products in UV-irradiated skin. The findings indicated that this delivery system could be a promising approach for administering other macromolecules transdermally.