Formulation and Evaluation of Transdermal Films of Ondansetron Hydrochloride

Transdermal delivery of ondansetron hydrochloride is one of the promising ways to maximize the therapy in contrast to oral delivery. Current investigation efforts are focused in formulating the ondansetron hydrochloride matrix-type transdermal film by incorporating hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers. In this study, ondansetron hydrochloride transdermal films were prepared using solvent evaporation technique and characterized for film physical parameters, in vitro drug release and ex vivo permeation studies through rat skin and also subjected to the differential scanning calorimetry and stability studies. The percentage drug release form both in vitro drug release (99.12±0.96%) and ex vivo permeation studies (73.28±0.92%) were found to be highest for formulation carrying PVA: PVP in ratio 1:4 (F6) due to the hydrophilic nature of the polymers and pore formation due to leaching of PVP. The release profile of the best formulations F6 (r2 = 0.999 for Higuchi) indicated that the permeation of the drug from the patches was governed by diffusion mechanism. The calculated flux and permeability coefficients of F6 formulation was found as 5.95μg/ cm2/h and 0.748. The calculated similarity index value between dissolution profiles of F6 formulation before and after storage was found to be 88.76 indicates similarity between the dissolution profile before and after storage. Above results indicate that the formulation of transdermal films of ondansetron hydrochloride using PVA and PVP combination is a suitable way for therapeutic benefit.