Transdermal delivery of duloxetine-sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin complex for effective management of depression

Aim of the study was to reduce the dose and dosing frequency of duloxetine HCl (DXT) by complexation with sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBEβCD), an anionic cyclodextrin through permeation enhancement for more effective management of depression. Spray dried inclusion complexes of drug with SBEβCD were prepared and incorporated in medicated patches followed by their ex vivo permeation and skin retention studies. Then, in vivo efficacy and absorption of the drug from developed optimised patch was determined in Wistar rats by administering drug through oral route (free drug) and transdermal route (complexed drug). Swimming, immobility and climbing parameters in FST while ambulation and rearings parameters in LAT test were assessed. Addition of permeation enhancer (PE) increased drug permeation and the enhancement ratio (ER) was 3.05 and 1.67 for the patch having complexed DXT and spray dried sample of DXT in comparison to free DXT respectively. The amount of drug retained in skin and in optimized medicated patch after 72 h was relatively lower compared to the formulation having free DXT. Enhanced antidepressive activity was observed for complexed drug compared to free drug. We believe that spray dried complexation based transdermal patch can serve as potential innovative drug delivery system for DXT.