Formulation and characterization of transdermal drug delivery system comprising esomeprazole

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Esomeprazole is an antacid belonging to the category of proton-pump inhibitors. OBJECTIVE: The key objective of the present effort was to formulate and analyze the transdermal patch of esomeprazole using polymers, permeability enhancers, as well as plasticizer agents by means of solvent casting technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Esomeprazole transdermal patches was prepared and evaluated for appearance, weight uniformity, thickness, drug content, folding endurance, X-ray diffraction (XRD) study, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), investigation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: Formulated transdermal patches remained flexible, thin, and smooth; weight consistency, uniform drug content, and thickness uniformity existed with very lower standard deviation results. The DSC results showed rigidness of the patches and XRD analysis confirmed amorphous dispersion of the drug, and SEM study showed superficial morphology. CONCLUSION: The study has yielded encouraging results, and there is further scope of animal studies.