Abstract The growing interest in transdermal drug delivery systems has led to the exploration of novel methods to enhance skin permeability and drug bioavailability. In this study, the effects of various electromagnetic fields (EMF) configurations on the physicochemical properties and transdermal performance of ketoprofen, a commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, were investigated. Ketoprofen samples were exposed for 8 hours to oscillating, pulsed, static (positive and negative polarity), and rotating magnetic fields. Subsequent analyses included FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, thermal stability, aqueous solubility, lipophilicity (log P), skin permeability (measured using Franz diffusion cells), and accumulation in porcine skin. The results showed that, while the molecular structure of ketoprofen remained unchanged, exposure to a magnetic field induced subtle changes in the crystal structure, thermal behaviour, solubility, and lipophilicity properties. Among all tested conditions, pulsed magnetic fields (particularly PMF 10/10) and rotating fields (RMF 50 Hz) significantly improved both transdermal permeation and dermal accumulation. These enhancements correlated with increased solubility, suggesting that EMFs may modulate molecular interactions with biological barriers. In contrast, static fields with negative polarity reduced the transport and retention of drugs in skin tissue. This study confirms the potential of electromagnetic stimulation as a non-invasive and effective strategy for enhancing the dermal delivery of poorly permeable active substances, such as ketoprofen. Optimization of EMF parameters may provide a promising direction for the development of advanced transdermal drug delivery systems. Graphical Abstract
Zyburtowicz-Ćwiartka et al. (Tue,) studied this question.