What is electroosmosis?
Results when an electric field is applied to a charged membrane, causing a solvent to flow across the membrane from anode (+) to cathode (-)
Electroosmosis is a phenomenon used in various applications, including drug delivery and separation processes.
What is the charge of the skin in electroosmosis?
Skin is (-) charged
This negative charge affects the movement of ions and solvent during electroosmosis.
What type of ions is the skin selectively permeable to?
Cations
Cations are positively charged ions that can move into the skin, influencing the flow of solvents.
What happens as cations move into the skin?
It carries a mass flow of solvents/water
This mass flow is crucial for transporting substances into and through the skin.
What can the stream of solvent carry?
Molecules dissolved in the solvent
This ability to carry dissolved molecules enhances the effectiveness of drug delivery systems.
What is the effect of electroosmotic flow on iontophoresis?
The flux of anodal iontophoresis is higher
This increased flux enhances drug delivery efficiency through iontophoresis techniques.
What types of molecules can be enhanced for penetration due to electroosmosis?
Uncharged, polar, & larger molecules
This property is particularly beneficial for delivering various therapeutic agents through the skin.
Fill in the blank: Electroosmosis causes a solvent to flow across the membrane from _______ to _______.
anode (+) to cathode (-)
Understanding the direction of flow is important for applications involving electroosmosis.
