Formulation and Evaluation of Flurbiprofen Loaded Microspheres for Transdermal Delivery

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The conventional treatment for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis involves the use of Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are having many side effects, there by limiting their use. The aim of the present study is to prepare flurbiprofen-loaded microspheres and incorporate into a transdermal patch for sustained release of flurbiprofen. The microspheres were prepared by emulsification method using sodium alginate (concentration 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%) as a polymer and evaluated for entrapment efficiency, loading efficiency, particle size, drug content, surface morphology and in-vitro drug release studies. The microspheres with least percentage release were incorporated into transdermal patch, which was prepared by using combination of polymers hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC): ethyl cellulose (EC): EUDRAGIT L100. The patches were evaluated for drug content, thickness, tensile strength and invitro permeation studies. The invitro release studies of the prepared flurbiprofen transdermal patch loaded microspheres were compared and the results showed microspheres(MS2) loaded transdermal patch exhibited controlled release with non- fickian diffusion as release mechanism.

Flurbiprofen microspheres; sodium alginate; transdermal patches; emulsification method.