Optimization and Biopharmaceutical Evaluation of a Formulated Patch of Ondansetron for Transdermal Delivery

Skin is an important site of drug application for both local and systemic effects. The idea of transdermal drug delivery system (delivering drugs through skin) is old, as the use of it is reported back in16th century B.C. The first transdermal patch was approved by FDA in 1979. It contained the drug scopolamine, used to treat motion sickness. The success of a dermatological drug to be used for systemic drug delivery depends on the ability of the drug to penetrate through skin in sufficient quantities to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Ondansetron Hydrochloride is a 5-HT3 antagonist (5-HT3-receptor antagonist) with antiemetic activity. It is used in the management of nausea and vomiting induced by cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The matrix-type transdermal patches containing Ondansetron HCl were attempted to prepare using different ratios of Ethyl cellulose, Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (E15) and plasticizer. Glycerol was used as plasticizers. Five such formulations of Ondansetron HCl transdermal patches were formulated using different polymeric ratios. The formulations were subjected to evaluation for physico-chemical parameters like thickness, weight variation, drug content, folding endurance, % moisture content, moisture uptake, flatness water vapor transmission rate, and biopharmaceutical evaluation like in-vitro drug release study, in-vitro permeation study through dialysis membrane. Matrix patches showed an initial burst effect to provide the loading dose of the drug, followed by sustained release, indicating a promising potential of the Ondansetron hydrochloride matrix patches as an alternative to the conventional dosage form like tablets.