The Use of Opuntia Ficus Indica Mucilage Powder as a Novel Excipient Used in Transdermal Patch

The application of powdered Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) mucilage as a natural excipient in transdermal drug delivery systems is investigated in this work. Excellent mechanical characteristics, regulated drug release, and improved skin penetration were demonstrated by transdermal patches made with different amounts of OFI mucilage. Its biocompatibility with human skin fibroblasts was validated by in vitro experiments. For transdermal patches, the results indicate that OFI mucilage is a viable, sustainable substitute for synthetic excipients; nevertheless, more in vivo and long-term stability research is required.