Transdermal Delivery of Metformin Hydrochloride from a Semisolid Vehicle

Metformin hydrochloride is a traditional, FDA-approved drug used as a first-line drug of choice to treat type 2 diabetes. Research has shown metformin hydrochloride effective in injuries, including age-related maladies. The purpose of this ex vivo study was to evaluate the use of a commercial transdermal vehicle as a semisolid, liposomal vanishing cream (Pentravan) to deliver metformin hydrochloride through the human skin. The experiments were conducted as percutaneous absorption assay in Franz Diffusion Cells, coupled with freshly excised human skin and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Both methods were based on validated methods of both the United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. and the International Conference on Harmonization. A 46.7% permeation percentage was found, with a drug flux of 3.91 µg cm-2 h-1 and a lag time of 0.51 h, following pseudo first-order absorption kinetics. These results showed that transdermal metformin hydrochloride can be an option for patients searching for diverse clinical effects.