The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7290 p331
13 March 2004

Easy to read and understand; a long overdue book

‘Transdermal and topical drug delivery’, by Adrian C. Williams. Pp xii+242. Price £65. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2003. ISBN 0 85369 489 3

In this book Adrian Williams has sought to bring together the basic principles involved in the study of dermal and transdermal drug delivery. Set at the introductory level, the book is some 242 pages in length and consists of seven major chapters.

It is certainly easy to read and understand, and some more advanced concepts are well explained using simple terminology. It is inaccurate to claim that the book covers all aspects of the delivery of drugs across skin as stated on the rear cover. I assume these are not the words of Professor Williams since I do not believe this was the intention of the book. However, most of the major aspects have been included. There are some concepts and paradigms that I would take issue with, but as a whole the book reflects current opinion in the field. In addition to the cited literature, I think it would have been useful to direct the reader to more advanced works at the end of each chapter (eg, Goldsmith at the end of chapter 1).

Overall, a book such as this is long overdue. In addition to the scope of users, I would include the staff of dermatology units and undergraduate MPharm students.

I will certainly make this book the entry point for my students from now on.

Charles M. Heard

Dr Heard is a lecturer at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University