Development of effective Herbal-based Ketoprofen Transdermal patch for pain management

Background: Muscular and skeletal disorders—chiefly low back pain—constitute the principal source of disability worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 20–33% of the globe’s population experiences chronic musculoskeletal pain, representing approximately 1.75 billion individuals worldwide. In view of this, the present study endeavored to devise and assess Ketoprofen transdermal patches (KTPs) by incorporating a combination of flex seed mucilage extract and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose, employing PEG400 as the polymer. The Ketoprofen transdermal patches (KTPs) were manufactured through the solvent casting technique. The effects of varying polymer quantities, drug load, and terpenes as penetration enhancers on the patch’s thickness, W/A ratio, and adhesion, along with its in-vitro permeation, were examined. The patches were likewise examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The physical and chemical stability of KTPs stored at 40oC and 75 %RH for 1 month was likewise assessed. The findings revealed that the transdermal patch released Ketoprofen at a level considered acceptable. Integrating flex seed mucilage into the patch formulations markedly enhanced Ketoprofen permeation across the skin. Consequently, the KTPs developed in this study were shown to possess suitable properties for the transdermal delivery of Ketoprofen.