An Examination of Transdermal Drug Delivery Using a Model Polyisobutylene Pressure Sensitive Adhesive

Abstract

This work was performed as a preliminary transdermal drug delivery (TDD) study to investigate the diffusion characteristics and effects of skin surfactants in vitro of four active ingredients on a poly(dimethyl siloxane) polycarbonate copolymer membrane. A Franz-type diffusion cell and various receptor solutions were used. The adhesive used was comprised of a polyisobutylene-based pressure sensitive adhesive manufactured by Adhesives Research Inc. High performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze the diffusion characteristics of these systems. In addition, the effects of two skin surfactants (sodium lauryl sulfate and dimethyl sulfoxide) on the adhesive were also investigated. Results from peel testing and thermal analysis showed that the peel strength, glass transition, and softening temperature of the adhesive was greatly reduced with the addition of the surfactants.