DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TRANSDERMAL PATCHES OF FEBUXOSTAT FOR TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY

The aim of this work is to formulate and evaluate transdermal patches containing Febuxostat as active pharmaceutical ingredient. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the transdermal films of Febuxostat to its applicability to reduce the dose of the drug. Febuxostat is an orally available non-purine xanathine oxidase (XO) inhibitor that has been indicated in treatment of patients diagnosed with gouty arthritis suffering from hyperuricemia and is used in the chronic management of the disease. The capability to be able to deliver hydrophilic drugs through a transdermal route may furnish a better solution to the problems associated with other methods for delivery of hydrophilic drugs. Due to their low absorption by the GI tract, hydrophilic drugs need to be administered orally in very large doses.  This increases the cost of the drug and may carry harmful side effects.  Increased efficacy of hydrophilic drugs in TDDS appeals to drug makers, physicians, and patients alike.  The development of an effective TDDS, particularly for hydrophilic drugs, will increase the availability of drugs to patients and bring new hydrophilic drugs to the markets which were previous not viable due to their poor bioavailability with oral dosing. The patches were prepared with the help of a various polymers (Ethyl cellulose, Sodium alginate, and Polyethylene glycol 400). The patches FTDP3 were more transparent as compared to the patches. The evaluation parameters of transdermal patches were evaluated like (Weight variation, Thickness, Folding endurance, Moisture content, Drug content and In-Vitro Permeation study etc).

Keywords: Febuxostat, Transdermal Drug Delivery System, Carbopol 934, Transdermal Patches, Gout.