Polymeric Nanoparticles Based Transdermal Hydrogel of Terbutaline Sulphate: Formulation and Evaluation

Abstract

Asthma is classified as chronic disease causing inflammation of the airways. Terbutaline sulphate is a synthetic β2-adrenoceptor stimulant used mainly in respiratory medicine. It has short half-life 3.4 hours so the study was done to evaluate the possibility of application of terbutaline sulphate loaded polymeric nanoparticles as transdermal drug delivery systems to give a controlled release dosage form with high rate of skin permeation. The technique that was chosen for the preparation of different formulae was ionic gelation method using tripolyphosphate and chitosan polymers and these formulae were evaluated for their polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency and particle size. The formula with the highest entrapment efficiency and the minimum particle size and PDI was chosen for further measuring of their zeta potential and Transmission Electron Microscope. The nanoparticle suspension was incorporated in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose gel base and evaluated for visual appearance, pH, rheological properties and in-vitro release. The hydrogel was then evaluated for ex-vivo skin permeation. The chosen formula showed particle size 160.1 nm, entrapment efficiency 70.1, polydespersity index 0.336 and zeta potential 20.1 mv. The hydrogel showed good homogeneity with slightly whitish colour with pH 6.4 and the gel exhibited Higuchi diffusion model. In vitro test showed sustained release profile within 24 hours and the Ex-vivo test showed high permeation rate within 3 hours. The Terbutaline sulphate nanoparticle loaded transdermal hydrogel showed high potential for application in transdermal drug delivery with uniform particle size dispersion, controlled release and high permeation behaviour.