Formulation Design, Preparation and In vitro – In vivo Evaluation of Propranolol Hydrochloride Transdermal Patches using Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Polymer complex

The purpose of the current study was to establish a hydrophilic lipihlilic polymer complex on the basis of in vitro and in vivo evaluations simulated to skin structure in order to control the release of propranolol hydrochloride from transdermal patches administered transdermally in rabbits. Transdermal patches of propranolol hydrochloride (PPN) were formulated employing ethyl cellulose with Poly vinyl pyrrolidine (PVP) and ethyl cellulose with hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) in different ratios (1:2, 1:4, 1:6, 2:1, 4:1, 6:1 w/w) as film formers for each polymer. Polyvinyl alcohol was used to prepare the backing membrane and dibutyl phthalate as plasticizer. Physicochemical parameters including moisture content, weight variation, water vapor transmission, film folding endurance, tensile strength, in vitro rat abdomen skin permeation study and scanning electron microscopy were studied. The selected formulation F6 was adopted for in vivo evaluation by administered transdermally in rabbits. It can be predicted that the F6 formulation (EC:PVP at 6:1 w/w ratio) has a greater potency to release the drug (56.33%) in a controlled fashion over a period of 48 hr. The present study has demonstrated the potential of the fabricated matrix films for prolonged release of propranolol hydrochloride in Hypertension therapy.