Transdermal delivery of beneficial substances effected by a hostile biophysical environment

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to the transdermal delivery of substances and, in some embodiments, to the transdermal delivery of beneficial substances by a hostile biophysical environment. 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. For example, by using a nitric oxide donor such as L-arginine, local blood flow may be increased, e.g., by transdermally delivering the nitric oxide precursor. The nitric oxide donor may be the sole cause of increased blood flow, or it may be supplemented with an adjunct such as theophylline.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 115 . (canceled) 
     
     
         116 . An article, comprising:
 a transdermal patch comprising ibuprofen and an environment comprising one or more ionic salts at a concentration of at least about 0.25 M.   
     
     
         117 . The article of  claim 116 , wherein the one or more ionic salts comprises sodium chloride. 
     
     
         118 . The article of  claim 116 , wherein the one or more ionic salts comprises one or more of choline chloride, magnesium chloride, lithium chloride, and calcium chloride. 
     
     
         119 . The article of  claim 116 , wherein the one or more ionic salts is at a concentration of at least about 1 M. 
     
     
         120 . The article of  claim 116 , wherein the environment further comprises L-arginine and/or an L-arginine salt. 
     
     
         121 . The article of  claim 120 , wherein the environment comprises L-arginine. 
     
     
         122 . The article of  claim 120 , wherein the environment comprises L-arginine hydrochloride. 
     
     
         123 . The article of  claim 116 , wherein the transdermal patch further comprises a penetrating agent. 
     
     
         124 . The article of  claim 116 , wherein the environment comprises citric acid. 
     
     
         125 . A method, comprising applying the transdermal patch of  claim 116  to the skin of a subject. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 125 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         127 . An article, comprising:
 a transdermal patch comprising sildenafil and an environment comprising one or more ionic salts at a concentration of at least about 0.25 M.   
     
     
         128 . The article of  claim 127 , wherein the one or more ionic salts comprises sodium chloride. 
     
     
         129 . The article of  claim 127 , wherein the one or more ionic salts comprises one or more of choline chloride, magnesium chloride, lithium chloride, and calcium chloride. 
     
     
         130 . The article of  claim 127 , wherein the one or more ionic salts is at a concentration of at least about 1 M. 
     
     
         131 . The article of  claim 127 , wherein the environment further comprises L-arginine and/or an L-arginine salt. 
     
     
         132 . The article of  claim 131 , wherein the environment comprises L-arginine. 
     
     
         133 . The article of  claim 131 , wherein the environment comprises L-arginine hydrochloride. 
     
     
         134 . The article of  claim 127 , wherein the transdermal patch further comprises a penetrating agent. 
     
     
         135 . The article of  claim 127 , wherein the environment comprises citric acid. 
     
     
         136 . A method, comprising applying the transdermal patch of  claim 127  to the skin of a subject. 
     
     
         137 . The method of  claim 136 , wherein the subject is human.