Formulation, in vitro and in vivo characterization of transdermal patches of etoricoxib

Abstract

The study was to develop a transdermal therapeutic system for Etoricoxib (EX) using various polymers like Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC), Ethyl Cellulose (EC) and Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP) and plasticizers by solvent casting technique. The prepared patches were evaluated for physicochemical properties, in vitro release, in vitro skin permeation and in vivo release. The interactions between EX and polymers were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The in vitro release studies revealed that the release was sustained up to 24h and it follows zero order kinetics. Finally, the patch formulation containing E4 (0.75% HPMC, 0.25% PVP) selected through our in vitro study was cha- racterized for in vitro skin permeation using various biological membranes like rat skin and Guinea pig skin. The patch exhibited no skin irritation and better Pharmacodynamic activity when compared with a commercially available Diclofenac patch with all the tested in vivo parameters. As a patient friendly and once a day dosing therapeutic system, the transdermal patches incorporating EX could be promising in the pasture of Controlled drug delivery.