FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MATRIX TYPE TRANSDERMAL PATCHES OF ATORVASTATIN CALCIUM

In present work was designed to develop suitable transdermal matrix type of Atorvastatin calcium, using Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and ethyl cellulose (EC) with PEG 400, n-DB (as plasticizers) and propylene glycol(as penetration enhancer). The solvent casting technique was employed for the preparation of HPMC, and EC film.The dry films were evaluated for weight variation, thickness uniformity, moisture content, moisture uptake,folding endurance and % drug content. In-vitro diffusion studies were performed using cellulose acetatemembrane in a Franz’s diffusion cell. The concentration of diffused drug was measured using UV- visiblespectrophotometer at λ max 246.2 nm. Patches prepared, from each batch, gave release profile for over 24 hours.Cumulative amount of drug release in 24 hours from all the prepared formulations were found to be in followingorder: F2 > F3 > F7 > F9 > F8 > F5 > F1 > F6> F4 > F10. Prepared patch from HPMC 5 cps and ethyl cellulose (F2)exhibited good characteristics for sustained release action and other parameters evaluated.KEY WORDS: Atorvastatin Calcium, Transdermal Delivery, Hydroxyl Propyl Methyl Cellulose, Ethyl Cellulose