Acta Pharm. 61 (2011) 271-282

 

full paper

Original research paper

 

Design and evaluation of a bioadhesive film for transdermal delivery of propranolol hydrochloride

BAZIGHA K. ABDUL RASOOL, UDAY S. AZIZ, OMAR SARHEED and ALAA A. ABDUL RASOOL

bazigharasool@yahoo.com; bazigha_rasool@hotmail.com

1 Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice, Dubai Pharmacy College, Dubai, UAE

2 Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Basra, Basra, Iraq

3 Department of Pharmaceutics, RAK College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ras Al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE

4 College of Pharmacy, University of Bagdad, Bagdad, Iraq

Accepted June 23, 2011

 

The objective of the study was to develop a suitable transdermal delivery system for propranolol hydrochloride (PPL) via employing chitosan as a film former. Drug concentration uniformity, thickness, moisture uptake capacity and skin bioadhesion of the films were characterized. The effects of chitosan and PPL concentration and different penetration enhancers on the release and permeation profiles from the films were investigated. Skin irritation of the candidate film was evaluated. Chitosan film (PPL 2 mg cm-2, chitosan 2 % m/m, cineol 10 %, m/m) was found non-irritant and achieved 88.2 % release after 8 hours in phosphate buffer. Significant high (p < 0.001) permeation of PPL through rat skin was obtained using this film compared to the film without enhancer (about 8 times enhancement factor), making it a promising transdermal delivery system for PPL.

 

Keywords: transdermal delivery, propranolol hydrochloride, chitosan film, enhancers