Polymers in Transdermal Drug Delivery

Current researches in the branch of polymer-mediated transdermal drug delivery systems (DDSs) are one of the most promising approaches as it bypasses the hepatic first-pass metabolism and improves patient compliance. The main barrier to drug permeation is stratum corneum, and the cutaneous absorption is limited by permeation rate.

Factors affecting permeability of drug via transdermal route includes DDSs, physicochemical properties of the penetrants, and pathological and physiological conditions of the skin. However, glorious impervious nature of skin is the greatest challenge that has got to be overcome for successful delivery of drug(s) to the systemic circulation. Transdermal DDS comprises adhesive and rate-controlling polymers, backing membrane, and release liner. All these components of transdermal delivery systems are made of polymers. For pharmaceutical effectiveness of transdermal DDSs, selection of suitable polymer component is very important.

This chapter will give brief introduction about the transdermal DDSs and their various types, and it specially focuses on role of polymers, the physicochemical and mechanical properties of various polymers used in transdermal DDSs.

Read the article here

Article Information: Author links open overlay panelChetan Yewale, Hemal Tandel, Akanksha Patel, Ambikanandan Misra. Applications of Polymers in Drug Delivery (Second Edition). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819659-5.00005-7