Formulation and Evaluation of Transdermal Patches of Granisetron Hydrochloride

Abstract

The present study aims at development of a transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) which can deliver the medication via skin portal to systemic circulation at a pre-determined rate and maintain a clinically effective concentration over a prolonged period of time. Transdermally delivered antiemetic agents provide the patient with a unique and convenient dosing schedule while providing nearly constant serum levels of medication over a prolonged period of time. Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems are defined as self-contained discrete dosage forms when applied to the intact skin that deliver the drug through the skin at a controlled rate to systemic circulation. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is one of the most common and most dreaded side effects reported by cancer patients. Other common adverse effects (AEs) of chemotherapeutic agents include hair loss, malaise, fatigue, diarrhea, dehydration, neutropenia, fever, systemic infections, and thrombocytopenia. Although some of these AEs cannot be prevented, those that can, such as CINV, should be aggressively prevented and managed. Transdermal delivery of an antiemetic agent through intact skin would have better patient compliance and plasma level. The transdermal route is an alternative method for the administration of drugs. Some drugs have pre-systemic metabolism or instability in acidic environments or GI fluid that results in low therapeutic availability in systemic circulation or low oral bioavailability. To avoid that problem, transdermal patches are formulated.
KEYWORDS: Transdermal drug delivery system, antiemetic, Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.