Ethyl Cellulose and Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Blended Methotrexate-Loaded Transdermal Patches: In Vitro and Ex Vivo

Abstract

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDSs) have become innovative, fascinating drug delivery methods intended for skin application to achieve systemic effects. TDDSs overcome the drawbacks associated with oral and parenteral routes of drug administration. The current investigation aimed to design, evaluate and optimize methotrexate (MTX)-loaded transdermal-type patches having ethyl cellulose (EC) and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) at different concentrations for the local management of psoriasis. In vitro release and ex vivo permeation studies were carried out for the formulated patches. Various formulations (F1–F9) were developed using different concentrations of HPMC and EC. The F1 formulation having a 1:1 polymer concentration ratio served as the control formulation. ATR–FTIR analysis was performed to study drug–polymer interactions, and it was found that the drug and polymers were compatible with each other. The formulated patches were further investigated for their physicochemical parameters, in vitro release and ex vivo diffusion characteristics. Different parameters, such as surface pH, physical appearance, thickness, weight uniformity, percent moisture absorption, percent moisture loss, folding endurance, skin irritation, stability and drug content uniformity, were studied. From the hydrophilic mixture, it was observed that viscosity has a direct influence on drug release. Among all formulated patches, the F5 formulation exhibited 82.71% drug release in a sustained-release fashion and followed an anomalous non-Fickian diffusion. The permeation data of the F5 formulation exhibited about a 36.55% cumulative amount of percent drug permeated. The skin showed high retention for the F5 formulation (15.1%). The stability study indicated that all prepared formulations had very good stability for a period of 180 days. Therefore, it was concluded from the present study that methotrexate-loaded transdermal patches with EC and HPMC as polymers at different concentrations suit TDDSs ideally and improve patient compliance for the local management of psoriasis.

Formulation Development, Characterization and Antifungal Evaluation of Chitosan NPs for Topical Delivery of Voriconazole In Vitro and Ex Vivo

“…Although superficial fungal infections tend less to systemic infection, their treatment is increasingly difficult in high-risk patient groups such as AIDS patients, organ transplant recipients, and cancer patients undergoing immunosuppressive chemotherapy [ 2 ]. Azole antifungal agents are the most used antifungals in the clinical treatment of both superficial and systemic fungal infections [ 3 ]. Voriconazole (log P: 1.8) is a second-generation triazole available in both intravenous and oral formulations [ 4 ].…”

Thiolated Chitosan Microneedle Patch of Levosulpiride from Fabrication, Characterization to Bioavailability Enhancement Approach

“…The standard Draize skin irritation test was performed to measure erythema and edema, after removal of LS-TC-MNP [ 39 ]. Mice weighing 24 ± 5 g were anesthetized using gas anesthesia of isoflurane in oxygen (2–4% ( v / v )).…”

Synthesis and Characterization of Acrylamide/Acrylic Acid Co-Polymers and Glutaraldehyde Crosslinked pH-Sensitive Hydrogels

“…Consequently, at higher pH, they remain swollen, leading to drug release in the intestine. Nevertheless, avoiding premature drug release before entering the colon section is very challenging due to the pH resemblance between the small intestine and the colon [ 30 ].…”