Preparation of transdermal patch as a drug delivery system for treatment of urinary incontinence

Abstract Overactive bladder (OAB) represents a prevalent and clinically significant urological disorder with substantial global impact. Conventional therapeutic approaches, including oral administration of antimuscarinic agents and β3-adrenoceptor agonists, often exhibit limited efficacy and are associated with undesirable systemic side effects, particularly gastrointestinal disturbances. To address these limitations, controlled drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising strategy to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Among these, transdermal patch (TP) technologies offer a noninvasive route for the sustained and targeted administration of pharmacologically active compounds. TP systems incorporating oxybutynin (OXY) and mirabegron (MRB) have been successfully formulated to enhance sustained drug delivery. The APIs were encapsulated within electrospun nanofibers and subsequently embedded into the patch matrix, enabling controlled and extended-release profiles. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization – including morphological, thermal, and mechanical analyses – was conducted to evaluate the structural integrity and functional performance of the composite system. In vitro release studies revealed that the nanofiber-enhanced TP extended the release of OXY by approximately fourfold compared to the reference commercial product, Kentera ® . A parallel formulation containing MRB was developed, leveraging its higher receptor affinity and pharmacodynamic potency to achieve therapeutic efficacy at significantly lower concentrations than OXY. Incorporation of nanofibers similarly resulted in a fourfold extension of MRB release time.