Electrospun Transdermal Patch for Contraceptive Hormone Delivery.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Contraceptive Technology

Background:

• Transdermal patches offer a method for long-acting contraception using Levonorgestrel (LNG).
• Developing effective and controlled drug delivery systems is crucial for long-term therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and characterize a novel transdermal patch for sustained Levonorgestrel (LNG) delivery.
• To utilize electrospun Polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers encapsulating LNG within a mineral oil matrix.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of LNG-loaded PCL microfibers using electrospinning.
• Characterization of fiber morphology, drug-polymer interactions, and thermal stability using SEM, DSC, FTIR, and TGA.
• In vitro assessment of transdermal drug flux across mineral oil and porcine skin models.

Main Results:

• Scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform PCL fibers with interconnected voids containing mineral oil.
• Thermal analysis confirmed LNG's stability within PCL fibers up to ~200°C.
• Spectroscopic and diffraction analyses indicated no chemical interaction between LNG and PCL.
• In vitro studies demonstrated effective transdermal flux, with delivery rate influenced by both the patch and skin.

Conclusions:

• The developed LNG-loaded PCL patches facilitate steady transdermal drug delivery for up to 5 days in vitro.
• These electrospun PCL patches show potential for future development as a long-acting contraceptive method.