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Available online at http://jddtonline.info

REVIEW ARTICLE
TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY PATCHES: A REVIEW
*

D. Prabhakar1, J. Sreekanth2, K.N. Jayaveera3

Department of Pharmaceutics, Trinity College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Karimnagar, A.P, India

2

MSN Laboratories Hyderabad, A.P, India

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur-Dist, A.P, India

*Corresponding Authors Mail address: [email protected], Mobile. No +91 9849927338

ABSTRACT:
For thousands of years, human civilizations have applied substances to the skin as cosmetic and medicinal agents. However, it
was not until the twentieth century that the skin came to be used as a drug delivery route. In fact, Merriam Webster dates the
word transdermal to 1944 highlighting that it is a relatively recent concept in medical and pharmaceutical practice.
Transdermal drugs are selfcontained, discrete dosage form. Drug delivery through the skin to achieve a systemic effect
without producing any fluctuations in plasma concentration of the drug. Topical administration of therapeutic agents offers
many advantages over conventional oral and invasive methods of drug delivery. And also provide controlled release of the
drug for extended period of the time. This review article covers brief outline advantages, skin pathways for transdermal drug
delivery systems (TDDS), various components of transdermal patch, and approaches for preparation of transdermal patches,
evaluation of transdermal system, general clinical considerations in the use of tdds and limitation of tdds.
Key words: Transdermal, Permeation pathways, Drug delivery, Matrix, Reservoir

INTRODUCTION:
Drugs administered in the conventional dosage forms
usually produce large range in fluctuations in plasma drug
concentrations leading to undesirable toxicity or poor
effectiveness. These factors as well as other factors such
as repetitive dosing and unpredictable absorption, led to
the concept of the controlled drug delivery system or
therapeutic system. A dosage form that releases one or
more drugs continuously in a predetermined pattern for a
fixed period of time, either systemically or to a specified
target organ is a controlled drug delivery system. The
primary objectives of controlled drug delivery are to
ensure safety and to improve efficacy of drugs as well as
patient compliance. This is achieved by better control of
plasma drug levels and less frequent dosing. Transdermal
therapeutic systems are defined as self-contained discrete
dosage forms which, when applied to the intact skin,
deliver the drug(s), through the skin, at controlled rate to
the systemic circulation1, 2.
The first Transdermal drug delivery (TDD) system,
Transderm-Scop developed in 1980, contained the drug
Scopolamine for treatment of motion sickness. The
Transdermal device is a membrane-moderated system.
The membrane in this system is a microporous
polypropylene film. The drug reservoir is a solution of the
drug in a mixture of mineral oil and polyisobutylene. This
study release is maintained over a three-day period3.
Advantages:
There are many advantages associated with Transdermal
drug delivery systems4, 5.

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The drugs by pass the hepatic and pre systemic

metabolism thereby increasing bioavailability.
Risks and inconveniences of IV therapy are avoided.
Reduced dose frequency and predictable sustained and
extended duration of action.
Easy termination of drug therapy.
It gives greater patient compliance due to elimination
of multiple dosing intervals.
Enhanced therapeutic efficiency by avoiding the peaks
and troughs in systemic drug levels associated with
conventional delivery.
Self administration is possible.
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SKIN:
Skin of an average adult body covers a surface of
approximately 2 m 2 and receives about one-third of the
blood circulating through the body. Skin contains (Figure
1) an uppermost layer, epidermis which has
morphologically distinct regions; basal layer, spiny layer,
stratum granulosum and upper most stratum corneum, it
consists of highly cornified (dead) cells embedded in a
continuous matrix of lipid membranous sheets. These
extracellular membranes are unique in their compositions
and are composed of ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty
acids. The human skin surface is known to contain, on an
average, 10-70 hair follicles and 200-250 sweat ducts on
every square centimeters of the skin area. It is one of the
most readily accessible organs of the human body5, 6.

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Figure 1: Anatomical and physiological Structure of skin

SKIN PATHWAYS FOR TRANSDERMAL DRUG
DELIVERY SYSTEMS:
When drugs are applied on the skin surface, penetration
into and through the skin can occur via various routes.
Drugs penetrate either via the stratum corneum
(transepidermal) or via the appendages (transappendageal)
(Figure 2). During penetration through the stratum
corneum, two possible routes can be distinguished,
Penetration alternating through the corneocytes and the
lipid lamellae (transcellular route) and ii) Penetration along
the tortuous pathway along the lipid lamellae (intercellular
route).

intercellular route. This is mainly caused by the densely

cross-linked cornified envelope coating the keratinocytes.
However transcellular transport for small hydrophilic
molecules such as water cannot completely be excluded.
The appendage route or shunt route includes either the duct
of the eccrine sweat glands or the follicular duct. The
content of the eccrine sweat glands is mainly hydrophilic,
while the content of the follicular duct is lipophilic. This is
mainly due to the sebum excreted into the opening of the
follicular duct. It is generally accepted that due to its large
surface area, passive skin permeation mainly occurs
through intact stratum corneum7-10.
BASIC COMPONENETS OF
DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS:

TRANSDERMAL

The components of Transdermal device include11-13.

Polymer matrix
Drug
Permeation enhancers
Other excipients
Polymer Matrix:
Figure 2: Possible pathways for permeation of drug across
the skin barrier
Generally it is accepted that the predominant route of
penetration through the stratum corneum is the

The polymer controls the release of the drug from the

device. The following criteria should be satisfied for a
polymer to be used in a Transdermal system. Possible
useful polymers for Transdermal devices are;

Table 1: Showing different types of polymers

Natural Polymers:
Cellulose derivatives,
Zein, Gelatin, Waxes,
Proteins, Gums,
Natural rubber,
Starch.

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Synthetic Elastomers
Polybutadiene, Hydrin rubber,
polysiloxane, silicone rubber,
Nitrile, Acrylonitrile,
Butylrubber, Styrenebutadiene,
Neoprene etc.

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Synthetic Polymers
Polyethylene, Polypropylene,
Polyacrylate, Polyamide,
Polyvinylpyrrolidone,
Polymethyl methacrylate,
Epoxy, Polyurea, etc.

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Drug:
For successfully developing a Transdermal drug delivery
system, the drug should be chosen with great care. The
following are some of the desirable properties of a drug for
Transdermal delivery.
Physicochemical Properties:
The drug should have a molecular weight less
than approximately 1000 Daltons.
The drug should have affinity for both- lipophilic
and hydrophilic phases. Extreme partitioning
characteristics are not conducive to successful drug
delivery via the skin.
The drug should have a low melting point.
Biological Properties:
The drug should be potent with a daily dose of the
order of a few mg/day.
The half life (t1/2) of the drug should be short.
The drug must not induce a cutaneous irritation or
allergic response.
Drugs, which degrade in the GI tract or are inactivated
by hepatic first-pass effect, are suitable candidates for
Transdermal delivery.
Tolerance to the drug must not develop under the near
zero-order release profile of Transdermal delivery.
Drugs, which have to be administered for a long
period of time or which cause adverse effects to nontarget tissues can also, be formulated for Transdermal
delivery.
Permeation Enhancers:
Permeation enhancers or promoters are agents that have no
therapeutic properties of their own but can transport the
sorption of drugs from drug delivery systems onto the
skin.11 The flux, of drugs across the skin can be written as:
J = D Xdc/dx
Where D is the diffusion coefficient and is a function of
size, shape and flexibility of the diffusing molecule as well
as the membrane resistance; C is the concentration of the
diffusing species; x is the spatial coordinate.
Although the solution for J with various boundary
conditions and membrane heterogeneities can be very
complex, the basic concepts regarding flux enhancement
can be found in above equation. The concentration
gradient is thermodynamic in origin, and the diffusion
coefficient is related to the size and shape of penetrate and
the energy required to make a hole for diffusion. Thus
enhancement of flux across membranes reduces to
considerations of:
Thermodynamics
coefficients).

(lattice

energies,

distribution

Permeation enhancers are hypothesized to affect one

or more of the layers to achieve skin penetration
enhancement. A large number of compounds have
been investigated for their ability to enhance stratum
corneum permeability. These conveniently classified
under the following main headings:
Solvents: These compounds increase penetration possibly
by
1). Swelling the polar pathways in the skin.
2). Fluidization of lipids.
Examples include water alcohols-methanol and ethanol;
alkyl methyl sulfoxides-dimethyl sulfoxide, alkyl
homologs of methyl sulfoxide, dimethyl acetamide and
dimethyl
formamide;
pyrrolidones-2-pyrrolidone;
laurocapram (Azone), miscellaneous solvents-propylene
glycol, glycerol, silicone fluids, isopropyl palmitate.
Surfactants: These compounds are proposed to enhance
polar pathway transport, especially of hydrophilic drugs.
The ability of a surfactant to alter penetration is a function
of the head group and the hydrocarbon chain length. These
compounds are skin irritants, therefore, a balance between
penetration enhancement and irritation have to be
considered. Anionic surfactants can penetrate and interact
strongly with the skin. Once these surfactants have
penetrated the skin, they can induce large alterations.
Cationic surfactants are reportedly more irritant than the
anionic surfactants and they have not been widely studied
as skin permeation enhancers. Of the three major classes of
surfactants, the nonionic have long been recognized as
those with the least potential for irritation and have been
widely studied.
Examples of commonly used surfactants are:
Anionic Surfactants: Dioctyl sulphosuccinate, Sodium
lauryl sulphate, Decodecylmethyl sulphoxide etc.
Nonionic Surfactants: Pluronic F127, Pluronic F68, etc.
Bile Salts : Sodium taurocholate, Sodium deoxycholate,
Sodium tauroglycocholate.
Miscellaneous Chemicals: These include urea, a
hydrating and keratolytic agent; N, N-dimethyl-mtoluamide; Calcium thioglycolate; Anticholinergic agents.
Some potential permeation enhancers have recently been
described but the available data on their effectiveness are
sparse. These include eucalyptol, di-o-methyl-betacyclodextrin and soyabean casein.
Other Excipients:
Adhesives: The fastening of transdermal devices to the
skin has so far been done by using a pressure sensitive
adhesive. The pressure sensitive adhesive can be
positioned on the face of the device or in the back of the
device and extending peripherally.
Both adhesive systems should fulfill the following criteria.
Should not irritate or sensitize the skin or cause an
imbalance in the normal skin flora.

Molecular size and shape.

Reducing the energy required to make a molecular
hole in the membrane.
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213

Should adhere to the skin aggressively during the

dosing interval without its position being disturbed by
activities such as bathing, exercise etc.

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3). Ex: Transderm-Nitro system, Transderm-Scop system,

the Catapres TTS system, the Estraderm system, and the
Duragesic system.

Should be easily removed.

Should not leave an unwashable residue on the skin.
Should have excellent (intimate) contact with the skin
at macroscopic and microscopic level.
Backing Membrane: Backing membranes are flexible and
they provide a good bond to the drug reservoir, prevent
drug from leaving the dosage form through the top, and
accept printing. It is impermeable and protects the product
during use on the skin e.g. metallic plastic laminate, plastic
backing with absorbent pad and occlusive base plate a
(aluminum foil), adhesive foam pad (flexible
polyurethane) with occlusive base plate (aluminum foil
disc) etc.
Release Liner: During storage release liner prevents the
loss of the drug that has migrated into the adhesive layer
and contamination. It is therefore regarded as a part of the
primary packaging material rather than a part of dosage
form for delivering the drug. The release liner is composed
of a base layer which may be nonocclusive (paper fabric)
or occlusive (polyethylene, polyvinylchloride) and a
release coating layer made up of silicon or Teflon. Other
materials used for TDDS release liner include polyester
foil and metalized laminate.

Polymer matrix Diffusion-Controlled TDD Systems:

In this approach the drug reservoir is formed by
homogeneously dispersing the drug solids in a hydrophilic
or lipophilic polymer matrix, and the medicated polymer
formed is then molded into medicated disks with a defined
surface area and controlled thickness. This drug reservoircontaining polymer disc is then mounted onto an occlusive
base plate in a compartment fabricated from a drug
impermeable plastic backing. In this system the adhesive
polymer is applied along the circumference of the patch to
form a strip of adhesive rim surrounding the medicated
disc (Figure 4). Ex: Nitro-Dur system and the NTS system.

Figure 3: Transderm-Nitro system

DESIGN OF TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY

SYSTEM:
The basic components of any transdermal delivery system
include the drug dissolved or dispersed in an inert polymer
matrix that provides support and platform for drug release.
There are two basic designs of the patch system that
dictate drug release characteristics and patch behavior:
1) Matrix or Monolithic: The inert polymer matrix binds
with the drug and controls its release from the device.

Figure 4: Nitro-Dur Transdermal System

Drug Reservoir Gradient-Controlled TDD Systems:

2) Reservoir or Membrane: The polymer matrix does not

control drug release. Instead, a rate controlling membrane
present between the drug matrix and the adhesive layer
provides the rate limiting barrier for drug release from the
device14.

To overcome the non zero-order drug release profiles,

polymer matrix drug dispersion-type TDD system can be
modified to have the drug loading level varied in an
incremental manner, forming a gradient of drug reservoir
along the diffusional path across the multilaminate
adhesive layer (Figure 5). Ex: Deponit system.

TECHNOLOGIES FOR DEVELOPING

TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS:
Several technologies have been successfully developed to
provide rate control over the release and skin permeation
of drugs. These technologies can be classified into four
basic approaches5, 15.
Polymer
Systems:

membrane

permeation-controlled

TDD

In this system the drug reservoir is sandwiched between a

drug-impermeable metallic plastic laminate and a ratecontrolling polymeric membrane. The drug molecules are
permitted to release only through the rate- controlling
polymeric membrane. The rate-controlling membrane can
be either a microporous or nonporous polymeric
membrane, e.g., ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, with
drug permeability. On the external surface of the
polymeric membrane a thin layer of drug-compatible,
hypoallergenic pressure-sensitive adhesive polymer, e.g.,
silicone adhesive, may be applied to provide intimate
contact of the TDD system with the skin surface (Figure
2011, JDDT. All Rights Reserved

Microreservoir Dissolution-Controlled TDD Systems:

This type of the delivery system can be considered a
hybrid of the reservoir and matrix dispersion type delivery
systems. In this approach the drug reservoir is formed by
first suspending the drug solids in an aqueous solution of a
water-miscible drug solubilizer, e.g., polyethylene glycol,
and then homogeneously dispersing the drug suspension,
with controlled aqueous solubility, in a lipophilic polymer,
by high shear mechanical force, to form thousands of
unleachable
microscopic
drug
reservoirs.
This
thermodynamically unstable dispersion is quickly
stabilized by immediately cross-linking the polymer chain
in situ, which produces a medicated polymer disc with a
constant surface area and a fixed thickness (Figure 6).
Ex: Nitrodisc system.

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By Using IPM Membranes Method:

In this method drug is dispersed in a mixture of water and
propylene glycol containing carbomer 940 polymers and
stirred for 12 hrs in magnetic stirrer. The dispersion is to
be neutralized and made viscous by the addition of
triethanolamine. Buffer pH 7.4 can be used in order to
obtain solution gel, if the drug solubility in aqueous
solution is very poor. The formed gel will be incorporated
in the IPM membrane28, 29.
By Using EVAC Membranes Method:
In order to prepare the target transdermal therapeutic
system, 1% carbopol reservoir gel, polyethylene (PE),
ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVAC) membranes can
be used as rate control membranes. If the drug is not
soluble in water, propylene glycol is used for the
preparation of gel. Drug is dissolved in propylene glycol;
carbopol resin will be added to the above solution and
neutralized by using 5% w/w sodium hydroxide solution.
The drug (in gel form) is placed on a sheet of backing
layer covering the specified area. A rate controlling
membrane will be placed over the gel and the edges will be
sealed by heat to obtain a leak proof device 28, 29.

Figure 5: Drug Reservoir Gradient-Controlled TDDS

Figure 6: Microreservoir Dissolution-Controlled TDDS

Aluminium Backed Adhesive Film Method:

PREPARATION OF TRANSDERMAL PATCHES:

Transdermal drug delivery patches can be prepared by
various methods
Mercury Substrate Method:
In this method required amount of drug is dissolved in
predetermined amount of polymer solution along with
plasticizer. The above solution is to be stirred for some
time to produce a homogenous dispersion and it is keep
aside until air bobbles removed completely and then
poured in to a glass ring which is placed over the mercury
surface in a glass petri dish. The rate of evaporation of the
solvent is controlled by placing an inverted funnel over the
petri dish. The dried films are to be stored in a desiccator1620
.
Circular Teflon Mould Method:
Solutions containing polymers in various ratios are used in
an organic solvent. Calculated amount of drug is dissolved
in half the quantity of same organic solvent. Plasticizer
added into drug polymer solution. The total contents are to
be stirred and then poured into a circular teflon mould.
And rate of solvent vaporization controlled with placing
inverted glass funnel on teflon mould. The solvent is
allowed to evaporate for 24 hrs. The dried films are to be
stored in a desiccator21, 22.

Asymmetric TPX Membrane Method:

A prototype patch can be fabricated by a heat sealable
polyester film (type 1009, 3m) with a concave of 1cm
diameter used as the backing membrane. Drug sample is
dispensed into the concave membrane, covered by a TPX
{poly (4-methyl-1-pentene)} asymmetric membrane, and
sealed by an adhesive32.
GENERAL CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE
USE OF TDDS:
The patient should be advised of the following general
guidelines. Rotating of site of application is important to
allow the skin to regain its normal permeability and to
prevent skin irritation15.
TDDS should be applied to clean, dry skin relatively
free of hair and not oily, inflamed,
Irritated, broken. Wet or moist skin can accelerate
drug permeation time.

Glass Substrate Method:

The polymeric solutions are kept a side for swelling then
required quantity of plasticizer and drug solution are added
and stirred for 10 min. Further, it is set-a side for some
time to exclude any entrapped air and is then poured in a
clean and dry anumbra petriplate. The rate of solvent
evaporation is controlled by inverting a glass funnel over
the petriplate. After over night, the dried films are taken
out and stored in a desiccator23-30.
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Transdermal drug delivery system may produce unstable

matrices if the loading dose is greater than 10 mg.
Aluminium backed adhesive film method is a suitable one.
For preparation of same, chloroform is choice of solvent,
because most of the drugs as well as adhesive are soluble
in chloroform. The drug is dissolved in chloroform and
adhesive material will be added to the drug solution and
dissolved. A custom made aluminum former is lined with
aluminum foil and the ends blanked off with tightly fitting
cork blocks30, 31.

Oily skin can impair the adhesion of patch. If hair is

present at the site, it should be carefully cut, not wet
shaved nor should a depilatory agent be used, since
later can remove stratum corneum and affect the rate
and extent of drug permeation.

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Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics; 2013, 3(4), 213-221

Use of skin lotion should be avoided at the application

site, because lotions affect the hydration of skin and
can alter partition coefficient of drug.
Patient should not physically alter TDDS, since this
destroys integrity of the system.
The protecting backing should be removed with care
not to touch fingertips. The TDDS should be pressed
firmly against skin site with the heel of hand for about
10 seconds.
A TDDS should be placed at a site that will not
subject it to being rubbed off by clothing or
movement. TDDS should be left on when showering,
bathing or swimming.
A TDDS should be worn for full period as stated in
the products instructions followed by removal and
replacement with fresh system.
The patient or caregiver should clean the hands after
applying a TDDS. Patient should not rub eye or touch
the mouth during handling of the system.
If the patient exhibits sensitivity or intolerance to a
TDDS or if undue skin irritation results, the patient
should seek reevaluation.
Upon removal, a used TDDS should be folded in its
half with the adhesive layer together so that it cannot
be reused. The used patch discarded in a manner safe
to children and pets.
Use of transdermal patch It is important to use a
different application site everyday to avoid skin
irritation. Suggested rotation is:

216

physical and chemical interaction. Interaction studies are

commonly carried out using thermal analysis, FT-IR
studies, UV and chromatographic techniques by comparing
their physiochemical characters such as assay, melting
endotherms, characteristic wave numbers, and absorption
maxima etc32.
Drug Content: A specified area of the patch is to be
dissolved in a suitable solvent in specific volume. Then the
solution is to be filtered through a filter medium and
analyse the drug content with the suitable method (UV or
HPLC technique). Each value represents average of three
samples35-37.
Weight Uniformity: The prepared patches are to be dried
at 60C for 4 hrs before testing. A specified area of patch
is to be cut in different parts of the patch and weigh in
digital balance. The average weight and standard deviation
values are to be calculated from the individual weights37, 38.
Thickness of the Patch: The thickness of the drug loaded
patch is measured in different points by using a digital
micrometer and determines the average thickness and
standard deviation for the same to ensure the thickness of
the prepared patch38-41.
Flatness Test: Three longitudinal strips are to be cut from
each film at different portion like one from the center,
other one from the left side and another one from the right
side. The length of each strip was measured and the
variation in length because of non-uniformity in flatness
was measured by determining percent constriction, with
0% constriction equivalent to 100% flatness33.

Day 1 Upper right arm, Day 2 upper right chest, Day 3

Upper left chest, Day 4 Upper left arm, then repeat
from Day 1.

Percentage Moisture Uptake: The weighed films are to

be kept in desiccators at room temperature for 24 hrs
containing saturated solution of potassium chloride in
order to maintain 84% RH. After 24 hrs the films are to be
reweighed and determine the percentage moisture uptake
from the below mentioned formula41, 42.

CONDITIONS
IN
WHICH
PATCHES ARE USED:

Percentage moisture uptake = [Final weight-Initial weight/

initial weight] 100.

TRANSDERMAL

Transdermal patch is used when:

When the patient has intolerable side effects (including
constipation) and who is unable to take oral medication
(dysphagia) and is requesting an alternative method of
drug delivery.
Where the pain control might be improved by reliable
administration. This might be useful in patients with
cognitive impairment or those who for other reasons
are not able to selfmedicate with their analgesia33, 34.
CONDITIONS
IN
WHICH
PATCHES ARE NOT USED:

TRANSDERMAL

The use of transdermal patch is not suitable when:

(1) Cure for acute pain is required. (2) Where rapid dose
titration is required. (3) Where requirement of dose is
equal to or less than 30 mg/24 hrs33, 34.
EVALUATION TEST OF TRANSDERMAL PATCH:

Moisture Loss: The prepared films are to be weighed

individually and to be kept in a desiccator containing
calcium chloride at 40oC. After 24 hrs the films are to be
reweighed and determine the percentage of moisture loss
from the below formula43.
% Moisture Loss = [Initial wt Final wt/ Final wt] 100
Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) Studies:
Glass vials of equal diameter were used as transmission
cells. These transmission cells were washed thoroughly
and dried in oven at 100 oC for some time. About 1g
anhydrous calcium chloride was placed in the cells and
respective polymer film was fixed over brim. The cell
were accurately weighed and kept in a closed desiccator
containing saturated solution of potassium chloride to
maintain a relative humidity of 84%. The cells were taken
out and weighed after storage. The amount of water vapor
transmitted was found using following formula43, 44.

Drug Excipients Interaction Studies:

Water Vapor Transmission Rate = Final Weight Initial

Weight/ Time X Area

The drug and excipients should be compatible to produce a

stable product, and it is mandatory to detect any possible

It is expressed as the number of grams of moisture

gained/hr/cm.sq.

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Swellability: The patches of 3.14 cm was weighed and

put in a petri dish containing 10 ml of double distilled
water and were allowed to imbibe. Increase in weight of
the patch was determined at preset time intervals, until a
constant weight was observed 45.
The degree of swelling (S) was calculated using the
formula,
S (%) = W W /W 100
t

Where S is percent swelling

W is the weight of patch at time t and W is the weight of
t

patch at time zero.

Folding Endurance: A strip of specific area is to be cut
evenly and repeatedly folded at the same place till it broke.
The number of times the film could be fold at the same
place without breaking gave the value of the folding
endurance 46.
Polariscope Examination: This test is to be performed to
examine the drug crystals from patch by Polariscope. A
specific surface area of the piece is to be kept on the object
slide and observe for the drugs crystals to distinguish
whether the drug is present as crystalline form or
amorphous form in the patch21.
Percentage Elongation Break Test: The percentage
elongation break is to be determined by noting the length
just before the break point, the percentage elongation can
be determined from the below mentioned formula47.
Elongation percentage = [L1-L2 / L2] 100 Where, L1 is
the final length of each strip and L2 is the initial length of
each strip.
Tensile Strength: Tensile strength of the film determined
with universal strength testing machine. The sensitivity of
the machine was 1 g. It consisted of two load cell grips.
The lower one is fixed and upper one is movable. The test
film of size (4 1 cm2) is fixed between these cell grips
and force is gradually applied till the film broke31. The
tensile strength of the film is taken directly from the dial
reading in kg. Tensile strength is expressed as follows.
Tensile strength =Tensile load at break / Cross section
area
Probe Tack test: In this test, the tip of a clean probe with
a defined surface roughness is brought into contact with
adhesive and when a bond is formed between probe and
adhesive. The subsequent removal of the probe
mechanically breaks it. The force required to pull the
probe away from the adhesive at fixed rate is recorded as
tack and it is expressed in grams47.
Skin Irritation Study: Skin irritation and sensitization
testing can be performed on healthy rabbits (average
2

weight 1.2 to 1.5 kg). The dorsal surface (50 cm ) of the

rabbit is to be cleaned and remove the hair from the clean
dorsal surface by shaving and clean the surface by using
rectified spirit and the representative formulations can be
applied over the skin. The patch is to be removed after 24
hrs and the skin is to be observed and classified into 5
grades on the basis of the severity of skin injury38.

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217

In-vitro drug release studies: The paddle over disc

method (USP apparatus V) can be employed for
assessment of the release of the drug from the prepared
patches. Dry films of known thickness is to be cut into
definite shape, weighed and fixed over a glass plate with
an adhesive. The glass plate was then placed in a 500-ml
of the dissolution medium or phosphate buffer (pH 7.4)
and the apparatus was equilibrated to 32 0.5C. The
paddle was then set at a distance of 2.5 cm from the glass
plate and operated at a speed of 50 rpm. Samples (5 ml
aliquots) can be withdrawn at appropriate time intervals up
to 24 h and analyzed by UV spectrophotometer or high
performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The
experiment is to be performed in triplicate and the mean
value can be calculated48.
In-vitro skin permeation studies: An in vitro permeation
study can be carried out by using diffusion cell. Full
thickness abdominal skin of male wistar rats weighing 200
to 250 g. Hair from the abdominal region is to be removed
carefully by using an electric clipper; the dermal side of
the skin was thoroughly cleaned with distilled water to
remove any adhering tissues or blood vessels, equilibrated
for an hour in diffusion medium or phosphate buffer pH
7.4 before starting the experiment.
Diffusion cell filled with diffusion medium and placed on
a magnetic stirrer with a small magnetic bead for uniform
distribution of the diffusant. The temperature of the cell
was maintained at 32 0.5C using a thermostatically
controlled heater. The isolated rat skin piece is to be
mounted between the compartments of the diffusion cell,
with the epidermis facing upward into the donor
compartment. Sample volume of definite volume is to be
removed from the receptor compartment at regular
intervals and an equal volume of fresh medium is to be
replaced. Samples are to be filtered through filtering
medium and can be analyzed spectrophotometrically or
high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 49-58.
Flux can be determined directly as the slope of the curve
between the steady-state values of the amount of drug
-2

permeated (mg cm ) vs. time in hours and permeability

coefficients were deduced by dividing the flux by the
-2

initial drug load (mg cm ).

In-vivo studies: In-vivo evaluations are the true depiction
of the drug performance. The variables which cannot be
taken into account during in-vitro studies can be fully
explored during in-vivo studies. In-vivo evaluation of
TDDS can be carried out using:
Animal models
Human volunteers
Animal models:
The most common animal species used for evaluating
transdermal drug delivery system are mouse, hairless rat,
hairless dog, hairless rhesus monkey, rabbit, guinea pig
etc.
Human models:
The final stage of the development of a transdermal device
involves
collection
of
pharmacokinetic
and
pharmacodynamic data following application of the patch

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Prabhakar et al

Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics; 2013, 3(4), 213-221

to human volunteers. Clinical trials have been conducted to

assess the efficacy, risk involved, side effects, patient
compliance etc.
Stability Studies: Stability studies are to be conducted
according to the ICH guidelines by storing the TDDS
samples at 400.5C and 755% RH for 6 months. The
samples were withdrawn at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 180 days and
analyze suitably for the drug content38.59.
LIMITATIONS FOR SELECTION OF TDDS:
All types of drugs cannot be administered through this
route; the drug must have some desirable PhysicoChemical properties.11
Not suitable for drugs that require high plasma levels.
Not suitable for drugs that produce skin irritation and
contact dermatitis.
Not suitable for drugs with high molecular weight.
Not suitable for drugs that undergo metabolism during
the passage through the skin.
The Transdermal route cannot be employed for a large
number of drugs, as the skin is a very efficient barrier
for penetration of drugs. Only with low dose can be
administered.

218

The barrier nature of the skin changes from one site to

another in the same person, from person to person and
also with age.
CONCLUSION:
Transdermal drug delivery is a painless, convenient, and
potentially effective way to deliver regular doses of many
medications. Wide range of drugs can be delivered
improved drug uptake Minimal complications and side
effects low cost and easy to use. Example Ten years ago,
the nicotine patch had revolutionized smoking cessation;
patients were being treated with nitroglycerin for angina,
clonidine for hypertension, scopolamine for motion
sickness and estradiol for estrogen deficiency, all through
patches used by over a million patients per year.
Transdermal delivery of a drug product which is currently
approved as oral dosage form, allows for the avoidance of
first pass metabolism. Dermal patches are the most
common form of transdermal delivery of drugs. However,
the transdermal technologies have limitations due to the
relatively impermeable thick of outer stratum corneum
layer. Researchers are trying to overcome this hurdle of
poor permeability by physical and chemical means.

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