FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF DEXIBUPROFEN TRANSDERMAL PATCHES USING VARIOUS POLYMERS

The aim of present investigation on Transdermal patches of Dexibuprofen was formulated by solvent casting method by using the polymers hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose(HPMC) : poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), methyl cellulose (MC): PVP, HPMC: Carbopol 940P, HPMC: methyl cellulose (MC) and Carbopol 940P alone employing poly ethylene glycol (PEG) 400 as plasticizer and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) as permeation enhancer. The prepared formulations were evaluated for physiochemical parameters such as weight variation, thickness, folding endurance, flatness test, Tensile strength, % moisture content, % moisture uptake, drug content. In-vitro drug release was studied by Franz diffusion cell using cellophane as diffusion membrane, skin irritation test was performed on albino rats. There are no significant changes in the physiochemical evaluations except % moisture. The formulation containing hydrophilic polymers shows little moisture content than other formulations. The formulations prepared with HPMC: PVP and HPMC: MC as polymers showed best release than other combinations due to the hydrophilic nature of the polymer. The skin irritation studies using albino-rats revealed no signs of erythema or oedema, which confirms the skin compatibility of the formulated transdermal patches.