Fabrication and Evaluation of Matrix Type Novel Transdermal Patch Loaded with Tramadol Hydrochloride

Transdermal drug delivery as a novel drug delivery system has become a major research interest to the scientists for its controlled drug release and improved patient compliance. This study was conducted to develop an optimized transdermal patch of tramadol hydrochloride using an appropriate amount of suitable polymers. It was also planned to control the drug permeation rate from the device to achieve a sustained release pattern.

Several numbers of formulations were prepared by altering the amount of excipients. Physicochemical and biopharmaceutical parameters were checked to get the optimized formulation with desired characteristics.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results displayed no abnormal peaks and hence concluded that the drug and polymers were compatible with each other. The minimum standard deviation values of different physicochemical parameters assured that the method of preparation was skilled to develop patches with least intra-batch variability. A higher percentage of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) resulted in the greater tensile strength, moisture content and water vapor transmission rate of the patches. A high folding endurance value (>200) indicated the flexibility of the prepared patches and their integrity to the skin. The transdermal patches coded as F26 containing only HPMC polymer demonstrated the desired drug permeation rate (65.51%) within 12 hours through ex vivo permeation studies.

The formulation coded as F26 was found to be the most optimized patch as it exhibited sustained drug permeation rate followed by higuchi diffusion kinetics, that also confirmed the capability of the formulation to exhibit matrix type drug delivery.