DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF PREGABALIN TRANSDERMAL PATCH FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEUROPATHETIC PAIN.

Transdermal drug delivery systems are becoming more popular in the field of modern pharmaceutics.The objective of this study is to determine the permeation of Pregabalin from transdermal patch into microcirculation of skin. Matrix type transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) of Pregabalin was prepared by the solvent evaporation technique. Several batches were prepared by using combination of HPMC E-15 and Eudragit RS-100 different ratios. Propylene glycol was used as plasticizer and DMSO was incorporated as a permeation enhancer. Formulated transdermal patches were characterized for their physicochemical parameters like thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, percentage moisture uptake and drug content uniformity.The in-vitro permeation studies were performed using Franz diffusion cell. Patches were evaluated for their ex-vivo skin permeation studies. The possible drug polymer interactions were studied by FTIR.Formulation F-9 containing HPMC E-15 and Eudragit RS100 in the ratio of 200:600mg, propylene glycol 30w/v and DMSO 30%w/v was found to be the most optimum formulation and also found to exhibit maximum in-vitro %drug release for about 11.2 hrs. Result of evaluation studies showed that Pregabalin can be administered as a controlled drug delivery system to reduce frequency of drug administration.