Antianginal Transdermal Drug Delivery System: Formulation and Evaluation

Lercanidipine Hydrochloride (LH) is a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension along with chronic stable angina related to myocardial ischemia characterised by chest discomfort rather than actual pain. The main goal of the treatment of stable angina pectoris is to control symptoms, slow progression of the disease and reduction of major cardiovascular events. In our present investigation an attempt has been made to formulate transdermal drug delivery system of LH to treat angina pectoris. Transdermal films of LH have been formulated by solvent casting technique using three different polymers hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), ethyl cellulose (EC) and polyvinyl pyrrolidine (PVP) (blend ratios viz; 0.5:1.5, 1:1 and 1.5:0.5% w/v), of varying degrees of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. Propylene glycol (PG 30% w/w) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO 7% w/w) was incorporated as plasticizer and permeation enhancer respectively. The prepared films were evaluated for various physicochemical parameters and ex-vivo drug release through rat abdominal skin using Franz diffusion cell. The patch containing combination of HPMC:PVP shown maximum water vapour transmission rate, % moisture absorption and % moisture loss, which could be attributed to the hydrophilic nature of both the polymers. Ex-vivo data revealed that the released pattern from all the patches followed zero order; moreover it was sustained and extended over a period of 24 hours in all formulations. F7 emerged as the most satisfactory formulation by permeating drug upto 88.94%. Further the best formulation F7 was subjected to skin irritation studies, the results revealed that the F7 has no erythema and oedema.