FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF TRANSDERMAL PATCHES OF SERTACONAZOLE NITRATE

The present work was designed to develop suitable transdermal matrix patch of sertaconazole nitrate, which is of the imidazole class used for antifungal medication, using Hydroxy Propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVPK-30) and Dibutyl phthalate. The aqueous insolubility of the drug inspires for the formulation of controlled release transdermal patches. Different batches developed using HPMC K15M and Polyvinyl pyrrolidone in different ratios by solvent evaporation technique. Drug excipient interaction study was further carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic technique. Physical evaluation performed such as moisture content, moisture uptake, thickness and folding endurance. In vitro diffusion studies were performed using cellulose nitrate membrane (pore size 0.45 mu) in modified Franz's diffusion cells in buffer of pH 7.4. Permeation studies illustrated that the ratio of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and ethyl cellulose 1:5 shows good controlled release. Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models were used for optimizing the formulation.