Studies on the Development of Transdermal Patches of Nebivolol hydrochloride: In Vitro, Ex Vivo and In vivo Evaluation

An attempt was made to formulate and evaluate the Nebivolol HCl transdermal drug delivery system. The matrix type films were prepared by using solvent casting technique with polymers HPMC 15cps,PVP K-30,Eudragit RL100 and Methyl cellulose 15cps.Propylene glycol was used as plasticizer. The prepared films were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics such as thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, % moisture uptake and % moisture loss. The drug excipient compatibility was determined by Fourier Transform Infra red Spectroscopy. The results revealed that there were no interaction between drug and selected polymers. In vitro permeation studies were performed in Franz diffusion cell using commercial semi permeable membrane. Ex vivo studies were performed using skin of albino rats. Biological studies such as skin irritation test and % drug diffusion studies were carried out by using rabbits. Drug content varied from 73.72 ± 0.1to 95.4±0.15%. Moisture content and moisture uptake were increased for patches containing higher amount of HPMC due to its hydrophilic nature. The batch F4 (HPMC 1.5%, PVP 0.5%) had shown drug release for 24 h to the extent of 86.87% and drug release followed zero order release kinetics which was of non-Fickaian type of diffusion. The results of ex vivo and in vivo studies were well correlated with in vitro diffusion studies