Development and Optimization of an Herbal Polymeric Matrix Transdermal Patch for Potential Anti-diabetic Drug Delivery
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Diabetes mellitus has a large worldwide health burden, rendering transdermal medication administration a compelling alternative to oral medication due to first-pass metabolism and superior systemic bioavailability.The present research intended to create and investigate a matrix-shaped antidiabetic herbal transdermal patch including Gymnema sylvestre and Tinospora cordifolia extracts from Box-Behnken design refinement.Methods: Hydroalcoholic extracts of G. sylvestre, and T. cordifolia were medicinally evaluated by phytochemical screening, fluorescence analysis, and TLC.Drugexcipient compatibility was assessed before a formulation employing FTIR and DSC.A three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design was applied, with PVA amount (%), ethanol concentration (%), and drying time (h) as the independent variables.Fifteen formulations were developed by solvent casting using PVA, HPMC, and chitosan as polymers and PEG 400.Glycerol, DMSO, and Tween 80 are utilised as excipients.Patches were tested for thickness, folding endurance, tensile strength, moisture uptake, water vapour distribution, surface pH, drug content, in-vitro drug release, and release kinetics.Stability assessments lasted 60 days at 25°C/60% RH and 40°C/75% RH.Phytochemical analysis showed alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, and tannins in both extracts.FTIR and DSC verified drug-excipient compatibility.The improved formulation (Run 14: PVA 70%, ethanol 35%, drying 36 h) possessed a thickness of 0.38±0.01mm, folding endurance over 140, tensile strength of 3.80±0.16kg/cm², drug content at 99.1±0.7%, and cumulative drug release of 96.2±1.5% over a 24 hour period.Drug release follows zero-order kinetics (R²=0.981)with Korsmeyer-Peppas exponent n=0.62, indicating non-Fickian transport.The patch remained stable in both storage conditions, with no noticeable changes to the drug content or release profile.Conclusion: The tailored herbal transdermal patch showed superior physicochemical qualities, long-term drug release, and stability, indicating its potential for transdermal antidiabetic therapy.....
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmaceutical Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7203603442