Transdermal Reservoir-Type Patch Loaded with a Pluronic F-127 Gel with Dexamethasone: Design, Development, and Characterization

The purpose of the present study was the development and characterization of a reservoir-type transdermal patch loaded with dexamethasone gel through physicochemical and biopharmaceutical tests to generate an innovative pharmaceutical form. The reservoir-type transdermal patch consists of three parts: i) the adhesive film, ii) an impermeable film with a reservoir function, and iii) dexamethasone formulated in a PF-127 gel. The patch was evaluated based on area, thickness, resistance to fracture, bioadhesion, and post-wetting bioadhesion of the adhesive film. In addition, release studies were conducted on the reservoir-type transdermal patch. The characterization tests were for i) an impermeable film with an area of 247 ± 0.19 cm2, a thickness of 0.22 ± 0.01 mm, and tensile strength of 1463.9 ± 300.30 gf; ii) an adhesive film with a tensile strength of 64.21± 18.74 gf, bio-adhesion of 879.71±205.67 gf, and a post-wetting bio-adhesion of 505.10±34.39 gf; and finally, iii) dexamethasone gel with a relative density value of 0.938±0.01, non-Newtonian fluid, 99.06% of drug content, dexamethasone release test adjusted to the zero-order kinetic model and skin permeation studies with a Flux (Jss) =140.98 μg/cm2*h. As a result of these tests, the reservoir type transdermal patch presents adequate characteristics for dexamethasone transdermal administration.