Methods and systems for controlling and/or increasing iontophoretic flux

An iontophoretic electrode assembly for selectively transporting a compound of interest through a localized region of an individual's body tissue, wherein the localized region exhibits an electrical resistance that corresponds to a tissue permeability that exceeds the permeability of the individual's unpermeabilized skin tissue, the electrode assembly comprising:

• an electrode adapted for electrical connection to a current source;
• and
• a permselective material in ion-conducting relation to the electrode and having a surface adapted for contact with the localized region,
• wherein the permselective material has an electrical resistance greater than the electrical resistance of the localized region and is capable of hindering iontophoretic transport of a competing ion that reduces transference efficiency of the compound of interest when the material is in contact with the localized region.

An iontophoretic system for selectively transporting a compound of interest through a localized region of an individual's body tissue, comprising:

• a permselective material capable of selectively hindering iontophoretic transport of a competing ion when the material is in contact with the localized region, wherein transport of the competing ion reduces transference efficiency of the compound of interest;
• a first electrode adapted to be placed in ion-conducting relation through the permselective material to the localized region to allow iontophoretic transport of the compound therethrough;
• a second electrode adapted to contact the individual's body and spaced apart from the first electrode;
• and
• a current source electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, for applying an electrical current to the localized region of body tissue to transport the compound of interest iontophoretically through the localized region;
• and
• a means for permeabilizing the localized region such that the permselective material has an electrical resistance greater than the electrical resistance of the localized region after permeabilization by the means for permeabilizing the localized region.

An iontophoretic system for selectively transporting a compound of interest through a localized region of an individual's body tissue, comprising:

• a permselective material capable of hindering iontophoretic transport of a competing ion when the material is in contact with the localized region, wherein transport of the competing ion reduces transference efficiency of the compound of interest;
• a first electrode adapted to be placed in ion-conducting relation through the permselective material with the localized region to allow iontophoretic transport of the compound therethrough;
• a second electrode adapted to contact the individual's body tissue and spaced apart from the first electrode;
• and
• an alternating current source electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, for applying an alternating current to the localized region to transport the compound of interest iontophoretically through the localized region.