Transdermal delivery of beneficial substances effected by a hostile biophysical environment

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to the transdermal delivery of substances In one aspect, various methods for the transdermal delivery of beneficial substances are disclosed. By creating a hostile biophysical environment, beneficial substances may be delivered, according to certain embodiments, through the stratum corneum of the skin into the body. Beneficial substances include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutical agents, drugs, vitamins, co-factors, peptides, dietary supplements, and others. The beneficial effects disclosed include, for instance, relief of pain and inflammation, prevention and healing of ulcers of the skin, relief of headache, improved sexual function and enjoyment, growth of hair on the scalp, improving muscle size and/or function, removing body fat and/or cellulite, treating cancer, treating viral infections and others. A hostile biophysical environment may also be used in conjunction with systems and methods for increasing local blood flow, according to one set of embodiments.

1 . A method, comprising:
 applying, to a portion of the skin of a subject, a delivery vehicle comprising an NSAID in a hostile biophysical environment having an ionic strength of between about 0.25 M and about 15 M, wherein the NSAID is present at about 1% or more by weight.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery vehicle further comprises a nitric oxide donor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nitric oxide donor comprises L-arginine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nitric oxide donor comprises L-arginine HCl. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nitric oxide donor comprises an L-arginine salt. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nitric oxide donor is present at a concentration of at least 0.5% by weight/volume. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the NSAID is ibuprofen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hostile biophysical environment has an ionic strength of at least about 1 M. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hostile biophysical environment has a pH between about 3 and about 11. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hostile biophysical environment comprises one or more of sodium chloride, choline chloride, magnesium chloride, or calcium chloride. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hostile biophysical environment is capable of driving the NSAID through stratum corneum when applied topically to a subject. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery vehicle is a cream.