Peptide and protein transdermal drug delivery

Peptides and proteins are gaining increasing importance as therapeutic agents. Oral delivery of these molecules is not feasible due to gastrointestinal degradation. Parenteral delivery leads to poor patient compliance especially because the short half-life of peptides necessitates repeated administration. Passive transdermal delivery is not feasible but active transdermal delivery of peptides and proteins is a promising alternative route of administration which can bypass gastrointestinal degradation and offer patient compliance. This review discusses active transdermal technologies for delivery of peptides and proteins.