Effect of gelling agents & rate controlling membranes on permeability of propranolol hydrochloride through reservoir-type transdermal delivery system

Abstract

A Reservoir-type Transdermal Delivery System for Propranolol Hydrochloride was prepared consisting of gel as a drug reservoir in between backing laminates and a rate controlling membrane. The rate controlling membranes used were Nylon (NY), Cellulose Nitrate (CN) and Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (9 % ethoxy content) (EVA, 3M Corporation, COTRAN 9702). The hydrophillic polymers, Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), Hydroxy Propyl Cellulose (HPC) and Methyl Cellulose (MC) were evaluated for a gel as drug reservoir. 32 full factorial design was adopted to study the effect of independent variables studied. Gel prepared from different polymer for the study, showed desirable physicochemical properties and stability. In vitro permeation study revealed that release of Propranolol HCl was maximum (62.98% in 24 hours) in formulation containing HPMC as gel and CN as rate controlling membrane. It was found that cellulose nitrate membrane gives more release and so permeation among all formulation, which might be due to more porosity of CN membrane compared to other membranes. ANOVA study shows that both independent variables had significant effect on selected dependent variable i.e. Flux and Diffusion rate (P<0.05).